A group of New Yorkers injured by e-bikes is suing the administration of Mayor Zohran Mamdani, alleging the city has failed to enforce laws and allowed dangerous riding to proliferate. The lawsuit, expected to be filed Thursday, targets a March executive order that halted enforcement of minor e-bike violations, which critics contend has created unsafe street conditions.
"No mayor has the power to suspend the laws the City Council and state Legislature passed to keep New Yorkers safe – yet that is exactly what this directive does, turning our sidewalks and crosswalks into a lawless free-for-all," said Jim Walden, chair of NYC Common Sense, an organization joining the suit with crash victims and City Councilman Frank Morano.
The legal challenge coincides with accusations from some community members that the nonprofit Transportation Alternatives, which advocates for bike infrastructure and receives funding from major delivery companies, is influencing city policy over local concerns. On June 2, Manhattan's Community Board 7 voted to support the Department of Transportation's plan for a two-way protected bike lane on West 72nd Street, despite opposition from many residents.
Board member Jay Adolf argued that the board prioritized Transportation Alternatives' agenda over community sentiment, noting that many speakers in favor of the bike lane wore T-shirts associated with Families for Safe Streets, an organization that works closely with Transportation Alternatives. "It's our job to represent the people in our community and our community is overwhelmingly concerned about this proposal," Adolf stated.
Transportation Alternatives has received substantial funding from companies such as Amazon, Uber, Lyft, Lime, and UPS, which benefit from efficient e-bike delivery operations. Janet Schroeder, leader of the E-Vehicle Safety Alliance, claimed the nonprofit mobilized supporters to attend the Community Board 7 meeting.
The controversy highlights broader concerns about the rise of e-bike injuries. A recent NYU Langone study of trauma patients at Bellevue Hospital found that crashes involving e-bikes and e-scooters increased significantly, accounting for more than half of all micromobility trauma cases by 2023. The study indicated that one-third of patients suffered traumatic brain injuries, and pedestrians struck by e-bikes experienced these injuries at nearly double the rate of riders.
Pamela Manasse, a resident affected by an e-vehicle crash, described the vehicles as "motorized vehicles" and argued that protected bike lanes offer no safety when riders speed and travel against traffic.
Meanwhile, the Mamdani administration has continued to expand bike infrastructure. The city plans to widen a protected bike lane on Sixth Avenue and is developing a "bike boulevard" in Queens, which has drawn concerns from the FDNY regarding emergency access. The administration has also advanced protected bike lane projects in Brooklyn and the Bronx, moves often lauded by Transportation Alternatives.
Critics argue that these infrastructure changes, including wider lanes, facilitate high-speed delivery traffic and shift risks to pedestrians. "People have to run for their lives to cross the street now," said Julie Harvey, who was struck by a cyclist.
Transportation Alternatives has opposed stricter e-bike regulations, including proposed legislation that would have required license plates and registration for e-bikes. The group argued such measures would negatively impact delivery workers. Financial disclosures show increased funding from delivery-related companies to the nonprofit following the introduction of this bill.
Questions have also been raised about Transportation Alternatives' lobbying efforts. At a May 21 community board meeting, a member questioned an organizer from the group about potential unregistered lobbying for a bike lane on Lafayette Street, a claim the group denies.
Residents like Tom Cunniff expressed opposition to proposed bike lanes, citing personal experiences with cyclists traveling the wrong way on one-way streets and a lack of accountability. "We know that there's no accountability. There's no policing of any sort," Cunniff stated.
The Mamdani administration is also planning a 10-mile east-west "bike boulevard" in central Brooklyn, a project advocated for by Transportation Alternatives. Residents like Sandy Reiburn have voiced fears about increased e-bike traffic and its impact on neighborhood safety.