Bill legalizing electric bikes, scooters vetoed in New York

The governor of New York vetoed a bill that would have legalized electric bikes and scooters. Image: AFP/Martin Bureau via AFP Relaxnews

Late last week, The New York Post reported that New York governor Andrew Cuomo vetoed a bill that would legalize electric bike and scooters, claiming that the proposal failed to properly account for safety precautions.

Despite shared micromobility services thriving in cities from Paris, France, to Santa Monica, California, electric scooters and bikes will not be allowed in anywhere in New York, thanks to governor Andrew Cuomo’s veto of a bill that would have lifted state restrictions on the vehicles.

According to Cuomo, the bill’s lack of a helmet requirement and other safety precautions make the legislation “fatally flawed.” Furthermore, because scooters can accelerate without pedaling, the governor states that they are no different than mopeds, which require a driver’s license to operate and license plates to be on the road.

The veto keeps New York on the list of regions hesitant to adopt the e-bikes and e-scooters, along with several cities in California including West Hollywood, as well as Winston-Salem and Asheville, North Carolina.

Most bans and restrictions have been implemented to keep residents safe, as these motorized vehicles require no training or permit to operate, and no barrier exists to prevent people under 18 from using them. Additionally, the issue of bikes and scooters cluttering public spaces and blocking wheelchair ramps has raised concerns from local governments.

Currently, riders who misuse the electric vehicles or abandon them in inappropriate places are not typically held accountable for their actions, as such events are difficult to track.

As a result, scooter companies and governments are continuing to develop and negotiate ways in which the vehicle technology can be modified, so that consumer travel can be made safer and more convenient for those both on and off the devices. IB/JB

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