Upper West Side Residents Demand E-Bike Regulations
During a recent town hall meeting hosted by the NYC E-Vehicle Safety Alliance (EVSA), City Councilmember Robert Holden, the driving force behind the contentious Priscilla’s Law, addressed an audience of around 100 at St. Paul & St. Andrew United Methodist Church on West 86th Street. The proposed legislation aims to require all e-bikes in New York City to be registered and display license plates.
Holden, who represents Queens’ District 30, received a rousing cheer from attendees as he voiced the community’s concerns. “It’s unsafe out there,” he declared, pacing in front of the pews. “We can’t cross the street or leave our homes. We can’t live like this, folks. There are interest groups opposed to my bill, but they’re the minority.”
EVSA, which boasts over 1,000 members—91 of whom have been involved in incidents with e-vehicles—advocates for legislative measures to identify and penalize riders who harm pedestrians and violate traffic laws. Co-founder Janet Schroeder emphasized, “Consequence is what shapes behavior. We’re not anti-bike; we simply want these vehicles to be regulated.” Currently, while mopeds must be registered and licensed at the point of sale, similar regulations do not extend to e-bikes.
The event featured stark imagery, including enlarged photos of e-bike accident victims and their injuries. Prominently displayed was a photo of Priscilla Loke, a victim of a hit-and-run incident involving an electric Citi Bike in 2023, after whom Priscilla’s Law is named.
Several victims shared their harrowing stories, with one woman recounting being struck by a moped and waking up under a park bench. “I’ve stopped walking outside,” another survivor admitted tearfully. Pamela Greitzer-Manasse, who suffered life-altering injuries as a cellist, revealed that the individual who hit her was seen enjoying coffee just moments after the crash. “I’m scared of being hit again,” she confessed.
About an hour into the meeting, UWS City Councilmember Gale Brewer arrived. While she has supported initiatives to improve the safety of lithium-ion batteries used in e-bikes, she opposes Priscilla’s Law. This stance elicited some hostility from the crowd, with one attendee shouting, “How do we get rid of Gale Brewer?”
Brewer defended her position, arguing that enforcement should be managed at the state level rather than the city, stating that the city lacks the capacity to implement and enforce such policies effectively. However, she expressed willingness to support EVSA in a proposal to end the city’s micromobility pilot program in parks. EVSA steering committee member Andrew Fine labeled Brewer an “excuse-maker,” but acknowledged her presence and support for legislation to prohibit electric scooters and bicycles in city parks.
Priscilla’s Law has garnered the backing of 31 council members, three short of the number needed to automatically trigger a hearing in the City Council. The bill previously had 34 cosponsors, but two withdrew their support after lobbying by Transportation Alternatives, a nonprofit advocating for reduced car presence on city streets. Throughout the event, attendees voiced their disdain for Transportation Alternatives. Holden remarked, “What’s their solution? When we met with the Mayor, they mentioned a ‘holistic solution.’ What does that even mean?” A crowd member shouted, “They’re funded by tech companies!”
Recent funding data from 2023 reveals that Transportation Alternatives received substantial contributions from companies like Amazon and Uber, while Lyft and Citi Bike also donated significant amounts. A spokesperson for the organization has previously described Priscilla’s Law as part of a broader “war on bikes,” arguing that e-bike licensing would be “ineffective and a nightmare.” They expressed concern that such regulations could lead to discriminatory enforcement against e-bike delivery workers, potentially discouraging ridership.
Schroeder countered these arguments, asserting, “The views of our opponents, whether they realize it or not, are ageist and ableist.” Many attendees, including victims of e-bike accidents, were older adults.
Throughout the town hall, organizers maintained that “we are the majority of New Yorkers,” though there is insufficient data to substantiate this claim regarding public sentiment on e-bike safety. A prior survey concerning the city’s micromobility program indicated that New Yorkers are divided on the issue. However, for many residents of the Upper West Side, particularly older adults and those with disabilities, the perceived threat from e-bikes is very real.
Marian Lewis, 88, encapsulated the attendees’ feelings when she recounted being struck by an e-bike in 2021 while crossing the road in Central Park. The collision left her with a shattered hip and led to blood clots. Although she survived, she later suffered a stroke and can no longer bike. “The highest form of love is right action,” she stated. “And Priscilla’s Law is right action.”
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