Cyclists in New York City are vocalizing their dissent against the NYPD’s recent enforcement efforts targeting e-bike riders, asserting that the police are unfairly over-policing individuals on two wheels.
More than 300 riders gathered for a Critical Mass event on Friday, pedaling from Union Square in Manhattan to City Hall. They rallied against the police policies, arguing that the new measures are disproportionately harsher on cyclists compared to drivers committing similar traffic violations.
“Biking is not a crime,” proclaimed Ben Furnas, executive director of Transportation Alternatives, a group that advocates for safe streets and cycling. He criticized the policy shift, stating it is illogical to issue criminal summonses for traffic offenses that would only result in a mere traffic ticket for the operator of a two-ton vehicle.
For over two decades, Critical Mass has organized large group bike rides beginning at Union Square, promoting cycling and awareness of bike-related issues.
In an effort to curb reckless behavior among e-bike riders—such as speeding, riding on sidewalks, and ignoring red lights—the NYPD modified its enforcement tactics starting April 28. Instead of issuing traffic violations, officers began serving criminal court summonses for reckless driving.
Police presence has intensified in well-frequented bike lanes, particularly along Second Ave. on Manhattan’s East Side and Flatbush Ave. in Downtown Brooklyn, with officers vigilant for e-bikers violating traffic laws.
Bicycle advocates are expressing frustration over the lack of prior communication regarding the revised policy, claiming it disproportionately targets immigrant workers, particularly delivery riders known as “deliveristas.”
Advocacy groups Los Deliveristas Unidos and the Workers Justice Project issued a shared statement emphasizing that the new policy represents a direct attack on immigrant labor. “Criminal summonses can lead to jail time—or worse, trigger deportation proceedings,” they asserted.
With over 65,000 delivery workers relying on e-bikes due to inadequate public transportation options in their neighborhoods, they view the policy as a criminalization of poverty.
A delivery worker outside the Chick-fil-A and Shake Shack on Flatbush Ave. voiced their concerns but chose to remain anonymous. “It’s difficult to deliver because if we don’t make the delivery on time, we may receive a ticket. It’s horrible,” they lamented. With delivery services, timing is crucial; being late often leads to poor reviews that jeopardize their work.
“Criminal court is not fair,” echoed another delivery worker named Shimul as he prepared to pick up a DoorDash order.
Since the introduction of the NYPD’s initiative, the department reported handing out 916 criminal court summonses to errant e-bike riders by mid-May, nearly doubling the total from the previous year.
During a City Council meeting discussing Public Safety and Finance, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch defended the new approach, emphasizing the importance of road safety. “Every person is obligated to follow the basic rules of the road. Compliance is not optional,” she stated, addressing community concerns about reckless biking.
She described the crackdown as a response to citizens’ fears about potential injuries due to reckless e-bike operations, insisting it is not a “war on e-bikes.”
Commissioner Tisch remarked that the enforcement initiative aims to preserve e-bikes as a viable and sustainable mode of transportation while acknowledging a need for legislative reforms to keep pace with street realities.
Despite the increase in summonses, Tisch pointed out that the 5,100 issued this year to e-bike riders represents just 2% of the total 251,000 summonses allocated to all motorists, indicating that the crackdown is a small fraction of broader traffic enforcement.
Some pedestrians, such as 80-year-old Lloyd Harrison from Crown Heights, voiced support for the NYPD’s actions. He expressed his worries about the dangers posed by e-bikes on sidewalks, remarking, “Walking has become very hazardous, not just for the elderly like me but for everyone.”
Harrison also acknowledged the dilemma faced by e-bike riders, understanding their preference to avoid traffic, which may compel them to ride on sidewalks for safety.
Retired Brooklyn Assistant District Attorney Joyce Slevin, who is also concerned about the e-bike dynamics in the city, echoed similar sentiments. “At every corner, I worry if someone is going to run a red light,” she stated, acknowledging that e-bike operators don’t often adhere to the traffic signals.
While Slevin supports efforts to ensure safety, she desires a balanced approach to enforcement. “I don’t want any crackdown to be too hard … if they could simply remind riders to please stop at the red light, that would make me happy.”
As the debate continues, New York City finds itself at a crossroads concerning bicycle safety and the treatment of those who rely on e-bikes for their livelihoods, particularly within the immigrant community.
image source from：https://www.nydailynews.com/2025/06/01/cycling-advocates-take-to-nyc-streets-to-fight-nypd-e-bike-crackdown/
