Earlier this week, news arose from New York City that some legislators were pushing a bill that would require e-bike riders to license and register their e-bikes. One quick note: For clarification, I'm talking about electric bicycles; I'm stating this up front because I've seen some other news outlets use "e-bikes" to also refer to electric motorcycles.
Anyway, I can't speak for the rest of my colleagues here. But at one time, I delivered food on a motorbike. Not an e-bike, to be clear, or a bicycle; but I did food deliveries on a motorbike. It's the kind of experience that doesn't leave you. If you've ever been a delivery rider, chances are excellent you also have plenty of stories about your time in the food-schlepping saddle.
Naturally, with my past experience, the first thing I wondered about is how such NYC legislation would affect the countless e-bike delivery riders that crisscross the city on a daily basis. And from the sounds of the City Council hearing that took place yesterday, according to Gothamist, I'm far from the only one.
