New York City’s streets may become more perilous for cyclists if Mayor Eric Adams proceeds with a proposed 15-mile-per-hour speed limit for e-bikes, according to Michael Replogle, a former top city transportation policy official.
The controversial proposal is scheduled for a public hearing on July 14, with over 300 comments posted online, predominantly in opposition to the new rule.
Replogle, who served as the Department of Transportation’s policy director under Mayor Bill de Blasio, criticized the proposal as an ill-conceived measure that fails to enhance safety and may even endanger the very lives it aims to protect.
He expressed concerns that the speed cap would place cyclists in harm’s way by forcing them to slow down next to large vehicles, which are responsible for a majority of traffic fatalities and injuries, as indicated by DOT data.
“It’s a war on bikes, it’s a war on immigrants, and it undermines traffic safety,” Replogle stated in an interview.
He pointed out that many vulnerable individuals, including immigrant delivery workers, heavily rely on bicycles for their livelihoods.
Replogle’s opposition is not isolated; he argues that limiting e-bikes to 15 mph would be counterproductive, suggesting that maintaining higher speeds could improve cyclist safety by allowing them to keep pace with car traffic.
He referenced past discussions during the de Blasio administration regarding the maximum speed limit for electric bicycles, where the consensus leaned toward a higher limit of 20 mph to better align with traffic speeds for safety.
Under the proposed plan by Mayor Adams, drivers of cars and trucks will still be allowed to reach speeds of 35 mph, exacerbating the risk for cyclists operating at significantly lower speeds.
Replogle expressed alarm at this disparity, recounting his experiences commuting by e-bike in bustling areas of the city.
“I can tell you it feels much safer as a cyclist if you’re going close to the speed of the traffic than if you’re going half the speed of traffic,” he explained.
Research has demonstrated that larger speed differences between vehicles can lead to increased accident rates, particularly on highways.
This proposed speed limit move contradicts years of efforts under previous mayors like Michael Bloomberg and Bill de Blasio to promote cycling as a viable mode of transportation aimed at reducing traffic collisions and greenhouse gas emissions.
In 2018, de Blasio set ambitious goals to increase the contribution of sustainable transportation methods to 80 percent by 2050, with cyclists projected to grow from 1 percent to 10 percent—a ten-fold increase.
Replogle insisted that the proposed speed limits and the criminalization of cycling offenses directly undermine these objectives.
He highlighted successful initiatives abroad, citing Paris, where the implementation of cycling-friendly infrastructure and restrictions on private vehicle access resulted in a significant reduction of pollution levels over the past two decades.
Despite these arguments, Mayor Adams has emphasized that the Vision Zero initiative, aimed at minimizing traffic fatalities, has prioritized car safety for too long.
Research indicates that car and truck drivers account for 99.96 percent of recorded traffic injuries, a point that raises eyebrows considering the administration’s focus on cycling regulations.
In recent weeks, the NYPD has intensified its crackdown on cycling offenses, issuing summonses for minor infractions like running red lights or riding on sidewalks, particularly affecting e-bike delivery workers who are often immigrants wary of legal repercussions.
In response to pressure, Citi Bike operator Lyft recently preemptively adjusted its maximum speed to 18 mph, anticipating the upcoming rule change.
Replogle advocates for instead implementing a citywide 20 mph speed limit, proposed by state lawmakers last year through Sammy’s Law, which would align with safety interests.
The Department of Transportation (DOT) has only managed to implement lower maximum speeds on a limited number of city roads thus far.
Meanwhile, the City Council, led by Speaker Adrienne Adams, has yet to present any proactive measures to counter the proposed e-bike regulations.
Some council members have even introduced legislation to formally lower e-bike speed limits to 15 mph, which contrasts sharply with the community’s growing opposition.
Community feedback has largely reflected dissatisfaction with the proposed rule.
Comments from residents reveal concern over the detrimental effects on cycling, as many believe the new regulations would deter city residents from biking and further escalate street dangers.
One commenter recounted how e-biking provided essential exercise during her recovery from breast cancer, thanking the city for efforts to enhance biking safety, which she believes the proposed rule undermines.
Another individual pointed out that reduced speeds could lead to increased costs for e-bike users due to higher ride durations.
A third commenter characterized the speed limit proposal as misguided, suggesting that it distracts from the real danger posed by cars, which are responsible for the vast majority of road fatalities.
“If e-bikes are the focus of regulation, what about advocating for better bike lanes or targeting dangerous cars?” queried Nathan Dennis, advocating instead for measures that address root causes of traffic violence.
In response to queries regarding the proposed speed limit, DOT spokesperson Vin Barone referenced a previous announcement by Mayor Adams, alongside a recent DOT press release that noted a decline in traffic deaths this year.
Barone noted that the lower maximum speed for Citi Bikes might have contributed to a slight reduction in e-bike fatalities, from nine last year to six this year.
However, Barone also raised questions about whether faster e-bike speeds necessarily correlate to improved safety, pointing to differing studies focused primarily on car-to-car speed interactions rather than across various vehicle types.
As the public hearing approaches, the debate surrounding the e-bike speed limit continues to intensify, with both sides passionately advocating for their views on cycling safety and urban transportation policies.
image source from：nyc
