If you rely on an e-bike in any way—you ride one, your business employs people who ride them, your takeaways are delivered atop an e-bike—you might be about to get screwed by the NYC Council.
The NYC Council has proposed a bill that would require license plates and registration in the city for e-bikes and other electric micromobility vehicles. Although the bill hasn't passed the City Council yet, it very well might, as 30 lawmakers now back the bill. There'll be a hearing to advance the measure next week.
It's unknown how the process of registering the e-bikes with the DMV would go or how much it will cost, but there will certainly be a registration fee. But the financial burden of the new fee is likely to cost restauranteurs more than anyone else.
“Obviously, adding a registration fee is the city posing yet another financial burden on small businesses and workers,” said Andrew Rigie, executive director of the New York City Hospitality Alliance, before adding, “The city already has a long list of requirements for restaurants that directly employ cyclists,” added Rigie. “We don’t need to double up and make things more confusing.”
