Council bans e-bikes from sidewalks, adopts helmet rule for minors

Brooklyn City Council voted to prohibit the use of electric bicycles on sidewalks and shared park paths and adopted a separate ordinance requiring minors to wear helmets on electric personal assistive mobility devices, e‑bikes, bicycles and similar conveyances.

Councilman Matt Mosley, sponsor of the e‑bike ordinance, said the measure is intended as a safety starting point that can be refined later: "I understand that it might not be all‑encompassing at the moment and I look forward to amending it in the fall, but we do need to get something...a good starting point." Councilwoman Houchins stressed education over punishment in debate: "It is not meant to be punitive... we just really need to educate our young people and parents and also adults who are riding these devices."

The helmet ordinance specifically targets minors and was adopted after recorded votes; the meeting transcript records one 'No' vote on the helmet measure while the e‑bike sidewalk ban passed unanimously as recorded. Sponsors and committee members said enforcement will be tied to education and police outreach to reduce accidents and hazards to pedestrians.

What happens next: officials said they expect to return to the issue for refinements in the fall and to roll out public‑education materials. The police department was identified as responsible for enforcement and for coordinating public information on the new rules.

Why it matters: the ordinances respond to what council members described as an increase in incidents involving e‑bikes and related devices and an expressed need to balance safety and resident mobility.