City Council Speaker Julie Menin is backing away from a major pillar of her proposed e-bike crackdown \u2014 as new legislation will no longer require registration, which safety advocates say is key to holding out-of-control riders accountable.<\/p>\n
Menin is punting the issue to Albany rather than include it as part of her 17 bill legislative package<\/a> of e-bike safety laws, marking a reversal from when she co-sponsored Priscilla\u2019s Law, which would require such registration. <\/p>\n The decision to to not register the bikes bunts the impact the legal effort to stop danger from the powered personal vehicles, said Councilman Holden who sponsored Priscilla\u2019s law in 2024.<\/p>\n Council Speaker Julie Menin is going after e-bikes with a 17-bill legislative package. William Farrington for The NY Post<\/p>\n \u201cWhat the Council is doing is a halfhearted measure,\u201d he said. \u201cThey\u2019re not beholden to the citizens of New York City. They get their marching orders from PACs.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Menin\u2019s move comes as PACs funded by Uber and DoorDash dropped around $170,000 in independent expenditures supporting her reelection \u2014 and critics say that money from the powerful tech companies is what is stalling reform on the bike issue, as they don\u2019t want to face more suits. <\/p>\n Menin flatly denied any influence and pointed out one of the measures she backs would strengthen licensing oversight across delivery platforms.<\/p>\n Sal Albanese, a former councilman who now works with Make Voters the Donors, said money talks.<\/p>\n \u201cLegally, they\u2019re probably not talking,\u201d he said, \u201cbut it\u2019s a wink and a nod.\u201d<\/p>\n Advocates say that requiring the powered bikes to be registered and carry license plates would allow an injured pedestrian to identify a delivery rider and file an insurance claim against them or their the delivery app.<\/p>\n Former Mayor Eric Adams appeared to be driving against traffic on an e-bike Jul. 27.<\/p>\n New York City\u2019s TLC already licenses both the cars and the drivers for-hire vehicles, but Menin said she wants to follow New Jersey and have e-bikes register with the state DMV. \u00a0<\/p>\n Albany has shown little appetite for Priscilla\u2019s Law. State bills drew just six sponsors across both chambers in the last session.\u00a0<\/p>\n Sponsor Senator Joseph Addabbo Jr. said his bill has been slow to gain momentum because lawmakers fear hurting delivery workers.<\/p>\n Council Majority Leader Shaun Abreu, who chairs the transportation committee, introduced five e-bike bills Thursday, focused on police enforcement and regulating sellers and delivery apps.<\/p>\n Abreu was also listed as a co-sponsor of Priscilla\u2019s Law in 2024, but he told Hell Gate<\/a> on Tuesday he no longer supports licensing and registration for e-bike riders.<\/p>\n Council Majority Leader Shaun Abreu, a close ally of Menin\u2019s who chairs the transportation committee, introduced five e-bike bills Thursday. Matt Roberts\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n \u201cAll of us want the streets to be safe for pedestrians and cyclists, but we have different ideas about what will get us there,\u201d Abreu said.<\/p>\n His 2025 campaign received more than $250,000 in independent spending from Uber\u2019s PAC.<\/p>\n \u201cI call it legal bribery,\u201d Albanese said. \u201cUber PAC donating significant amounts of money to the councilmember definitely had an impact on his decision making.\u201d<\/p>\n Abreu has supported legislation regulating delivery apps since Uber\u2019s spending.<\/p>\n A spokesperson for Uber declined to say whether the delivery giant supports Priscilla\u2019s Law.<\/p>\n