Electric bikes and scooters now allowed in NYC parks
Photo courtesy of Shinya Suzuki on Flickr
Starting Tuesday, electric bikes and scooters will be allowed inside New York City parks. As part of a yearlong pilot program overseen by the city’s Parks Department, e-bike and e-scooter riders can use greenways and park drives, including the Central Park and Prospect Park loops. The pilot will run through May 31, 2024.
The dark green lines on the map represent greenways or park drives affected by the pilot. Map courtesy of NYC Parks
The pilot lifts the ban on electric micromobility devices in city parks, permitting the same bicycles, e-bikes, and e-scooters currently permitted to operate on city streets to also operate on park drives and greenways.
The devices cannot be ridden on pedestrian pathways and mopeds or motorcycles are not allowed anywhere in parks or on greenways.
“In 1894, the nation’s first dedicated bike path opened on Ocean Parkway – today we’re proud to start a new chapter in our legacy of supporting cycling by announcing a new pilot allowing electric micromobility in our City parks,” NYC Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue said.
“Cycling in New York City is one of the most sustainable ways to get around, and our parks are home to some of the most scenic, and often safest, cycling paths. I look forward to a successful pilot and want to remind everyone to stay safe and be respectful towards all park users.”
The pilot program is part of a plan unveiled earlier this year by Mayor Eric Adams to promote the safe usage of e-bikes and other devices, as the number of fires caused by lithium-ion e-bike batteries continues to increase every year. The plan includes installing safe outdoor e-vehicle storage and charging stations at NYCHA complexes and at delivery worker hubs.
According to the city, there were 220 fires caused by e-vehicle batteries in 2022, up from 44 in 2020. Between 2021 and 2022, these fires resulted in 226 injuries and 10 deaths.
On the same day the pilot program launched, a fire broke out at an e-bike repair store in Chinatown early Tuesday morning, killing four people. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
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Everyone has a different opinion of where an E Bike really can and not operate. As always the actions of some create problems. They are on highways, speeding on bike paths . They need to be held accountable for their actions. Rockaway beach no e bikes and they enforce the rule. Personally e bikes and riders do not follow laws . I’m sure by now numerous people have been injured.