The E-bike Epidemic

In the daily lives of those who live in NYC, it is abundantly clear that there has been a drastic increase in the number of electric bicycles on the streets. In a New York Post opinion article admonishing the use of electric bicycles, the author, Nicole Gelinas, states that “food-delivery apps have added tens of thousands of e-bikes to city streets, and their couriers, under pressure to pick up and drop off their wares quickly, disobey stop signs, red lights, and one-way signage; they also ride on sidewalks.” This blatant disregard for street safety doubled by the rapidly increasing number of e-bikes that are being introduced to the streets is clearly a safety hazard. Electric bikes are both faster and heavier than normal bikes, making them harder to control, stop, and maneuver than a normal bike. This means that the likelihood of people riding these electric bikes causing an accident is higher than that of someone riding a normal bike. 

By September of 2023, three people had been killed by electric bikes in New York City. In early September, a man riding an electric Citi Bike hit a 69-year-old woman, Priscilla Loke, who was crossing the street. Soon after Ms. Loke was hit, she passed away. Weeks later, another 69-year-old woman was killed by another electric bike. 

Not only are e-bikes a danger to pedestrians, but e-bikes are also a danger to those who ride them. In a bulletin produced by the New York City Fire Department, the NYFD warned of the fire safety hazards associated with lithium-ion battery-powered micromobility vehicles. Lithium-ion batteries are a fire hazard and have led to numerous deaths and injuries. The NYFD reported that lithium-ion battery explosions caused 14 deaths and 116 injuries in 2023. These deaths could have been avoided if there were no electric bikes. The e-bike epidemic is getting out of hand—new cases are popping up everywhere. It is abundantly clear that we need to ban e-bikes from the streets or risk the lives and well-being of New Yorkers.