The New York City Council voted on Wednesday, Feb. 29, to pass new legislation that will increase e-bike regulations in the interest of improved safety. The new laws come days after one person died and 22 were injured in a Harlem fire caused by an e-bike on Friday, Feb. 23.

 

Council members said that over the past few years, as e-bikes, e-scooters, and powered mobility devices have become more prevalent, the City has experienced a rapid increase in lithium-ion battery-related fires in both residential and commercial properties that not only destroyed property but resulted in injuries and fatalities.

 

Council members said the latest legislation is part of the council’s ongoing efforts to mitigate the dangers of lithium-ion batteries and improve fire safety citywide. The Council also voted on bills to simplify mobile vendor requirements. These include the first phase of bills to implement recommendations of the Street Vendor Advisory Board, which was established by Local Law 18 of 2021 and consists of various stakeholders, including vendor advocates and brick-and-mortar business representatives.

 

“Deadly fires caused by lithium-ion batteries that power electric mobility devices are having an increasingly devastating toll on New Yorkers and communities across the city,” said City Council Speaker Adrienne Adrienne Adams. “These preventable tragedies must be curbed to save lives, and the council continues to take action to advance critical solutions. We’re also proud to pass legislation to modify certain street vending requirements, as recommended by the Street Vendor Advisory Board, to help us have a successful economy. I thank my council colleagues for their support in passing today’s legislation.”

 

Bill Introduction 19-A, sponsored by Council Member Gale Brewer of Manhattan will require all businesses that sell e-bikes, e-scooters and other personal mobility devices powered by batteries, to post lithium-ion or other storage battery safety informational materials and guides. Such materials and guides will also be required to be posted both in physical stores and on online retail platforms. A violation will be subject to civil penalties ranging from $150 to $350 per violation.

Bill Introduction 21-A, also sponsored by Brewer, will enhance enforcement efforts around the sale and rental of uncertified powered mobility devices, such as e-bikes and e-scooters. It will also give the Fire Department of New York (FDNY) enforcement authority of these laws, increase penalties for illegal device sales, and give NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection and the FDNY sealing authority for repeat violators.

 

A three-alarm Bronx fire that broke out in Kingsbridge Heights in December 2023, as reported, was caused by an e-bike, FDNY officials said. As reported, another e-bike battery fire inside Electric Transporters e-bike store in Norwood broke out on June 7 last year and fortunately resulted in no injuries. These were not the only fire caused by e-bikes in The Bronx. A separate e-bike battery fire claimed the lives of four people at HQ E-Bike Repair store located at 80 Madison Street in Manhattan’s Chinatown neighborhood on the morning of June 20 last year.

 

The latest legislation has been supported, among other council members, by local Bronx Councilman Oswald Feliz (C.D. 15) who, as reported, previously introduced prior fire safety legislation in the wake of the tragic Twin Parks fire in January 2022.

 

“Prioritizing e-bike safety and mitigating lithium-ion battery fire risks are vital for public safety and the promotion of sustainable transportation solutions,” said Brewer. “So far in 2024, we’ve seen over 30 e-bike related fires, intensifying the need for more public information about best practices for lithium-ion battery safety, which is why Intro 19-A is so important. The City also needs stronger enforcement capabilities to seal unsafe battery shops, and that’s exactly what Intro 21-A provides.”

 

Meanwhile, Bill introduction 49-A, sponsored by Council Member Julie Menin of Manhattan, will allow mobile food vendors to display or store goods on top of their carts, and it would simplify the display requirements for general vendors. Additionally, this bill would repeal the City’s bookkeeping requirements for general vendors and mobile food vendors.

Bill introduction 50-A, also sponsored by Menin, will eliminate the requirement that individual employees of mobile food vending carts or trucks each have a New York State Certificate of Sales Tax Authority. This bill will also eliminate the requirement that mobile food vendors and general vendors obtain a tax clearance certificate upon renewal of a license or permit.

 

Bill introduction 51-A, also sponsored by Menin, will prohibit general vendors and mobile food vendors from vending in bicycle lanes. A bicycle lane is defined as a portion of the roadway that is marked off or separated for the preferential or exclusive use of bicycles. This bill will clarify that vendors cannot operate or leave their items in bicycle lanes.

 

As reported, after six people were shot, one fatally, at Mt. Eden subway station on Mt. Eden Avenue on Feb. 12, local resident, Alejandro Guzman, said in part, “The police need to pay more attention to delinquency in the streets and gun possession, and focus less on the  issuance of tickets and the confiscation of scooters used by young delivery workers.”

 

Guzman said the police were doing their work in terms of trying to stop gang activity but said more focus needed to be placed on this in his opinion. He alleged that, in contrast, young delivery workers were sometimes jailed for two days for activities related to their use of e-bikes/scooters.

 

Meanwhile, Menin said of the new laws, “As chair of the Committee on Consumer and Worker Protection, I am proud to have sponsored three pieces of legislation that were recommendations from the Street Vending Advisory Board’s 2022 report.” She added, “This package of bills aims to streamline regulations for street vendors, remove unnecessary requirements for mobile food vendor employees, and ensure safer streets by prohibiting vending in bike lanes. These bills represent a step forward in supporting our vibrant street vending community and I am grateful to the Speaker for bringing these bills to a vote.”

 

Norwood News readers previously weighed in with their thoughts on the expansion the use of lightweight e-bikes in New York City parks.

As also reported, New York Mayor Eric Adams, FDNY Commissioner Laura Kavanagh, and NYC Small Business Services (SBS) Commissioner Kevin D. Kim announced a new action plan on June 21, last year to expedite investigations into complaints made via 311 about potentially hazardous conditions involving lithium-ion batteries at bike shops and bike repair shops within the five boroughs.

 

A full list of educational materials on lithium-ion batteries can be found online.

 

Click here for some previous coverage on this topic.

 

New laws have also been introduced at a federal and State level to address fire safety prevention and the hazards of lithium-ion batteries and e-bikes.

 

On June 25, 2023 federal and City officials announced funding of $25 million for 173 safe e-charging and storage stations at more than 50 NYC Housing Authority (NYCHA) sites.