NYC launches campaign about electric bikes

NEW YORK (PIX11) -- Transportation around New York City isn’t only about trains, buses and cars. The city says more people are traveling on two wheels.

Keeping the streets safe for cyclists and pedestrians is a top priority for the New York City Department of Transportation.

A new campaign focusing on electric bike rules and safety has been rolled out in New York City.

“Get Smart Before You Start” is part of a multi-faceted approach that includes street redesigns and targeted enforcement of laws and regulations.

On Tuesday, at the 10-foot-wide bike lane on Tenth Avenue in Manhattan, transportation officials and the NYPD outlined the plan. Staff handed out cards to passing cyclists.

“We have to work on it together. This is a tight city. You have to respect the rules of traffic,” said Keith, a Bronx resident. He works from a bike shop on Melrose Avenue.

The city reports more than 200 million bike trips in 2023. Last year, the DOT installed a record 31.9 miles of protected bike lanes.

“With bicycle ridership reaching historic levels, we must use every tool available to give new and experienced cyclists the resources they need to bike safely, whether it's building new protected bike lanes or educating New Yorkers so they gain these crucial skills on the ground," said NYC DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez. "Our data-driven process shows that this new campaign is a timely and necessary response to the rise in fatalities that involve e-bike riders. E-bikes are an efficient and environmentally friendly way to get around and we hope that this campaign will encourage their safe operation."

NYPD officials said education and outreach are key components. It’s only about writing tickets or seizing illegal bikes.

“It’s not about taking livelihood away. It’s about bringing safety to the streets,” said NYPD Chief of Transportation Philip Rivera.

Since January, officers have written 1,600 bike summonses and 400 tickets for blocking a bike lane.

The city reports traditional bike fatalities are at an all-time low, but e-bike fatalities have increased significantly.

NYC DOT crash data shows 76% of cycling fatalities in 2023 involved e-bikes.

Last year also saw a record number of “single-bike” fatal crashes involving e-bikes where no other moving vehicle, pedestrian, or cyclist was involved.