E-Cargo Bikes Authorized For Use On NYC Streets, Key Safety Standards Established By DOT

NYC DOT AUTHORIZES THE USE OF E-CARGO BIKES ON CITY STREETS AND ESTABLISHES KEY SAFETY STANDARDS

New rules allow pedal-assist e-cargo bicycles to operate on-street to make deliveries safer and more sustainable

Editor’s note: For those who don’t know what an e-cargo bike is, here is a helpful definition and additional information from the city of Raleigh in England, “An e-cargo bike is basically an electric bike with a large storage space, designed specifically for carrying cargo.

Rather than having a trailer attached to the back of your bike at the rear wheel, electric cargo bikes include a built-in storage unit at the front. Front loaders with a built-in cargo box make it easier to whip round corners while transporting cargo – whether it’s the weekly shop or some local deliveries.

And with an electric motor adding a boost to your pedalling, these nifty electric bicycles will take you further and faster than regular cargo bikes – no matter how heavy your load is. You’ll find more space to carry loads further and a welcome pedal assist for pushing away from the traffic lights or climbing particularly challenging hills.”

Staten Islander has covered e-bikes in previous articles, including one here and another one about their new safety program here. 

Also, several questions were provided to the DOT regarding these bikes.  The questions are below, and answers will be added upon receipt.  Additional information was provided via this link:

Would you be able to please clarify where these commercial e-bikes are to be driven? Are they able to drive on the street itself, are they restricted to the bike lanes only, can they drive on the sidewalk, or can they do all of these?

A: Use marked bike lanes or paths when available, except when making turns or when it is unsafe to do so. If the road is too narrow for a bicycle and a car to travel safely side by side, you have the right to ride in the middle of the travel lane. Bicycling is permitted on all main and local streets throughout the City, even when no designated route exists.

Also, for the sidewalk rule, does this mean that the commercial e-bikes CAN travel on the sidewalks, or are they restricted from traveling on the sidewalks? It mentions that they cannot be stopped or parked on the sidewalk for any reason, which would appear to imply that they might be driven there, but just can’t stop. Can you please clarify?

A:Ride in the street, not on the sidewalks (unless rider is age 12 or younger and the bicycle’s wheels are less than 26 inches in diameter).

As this is a new technology, is there any data on the safety of these bikes in a collision situation, either with pedestrians, cars/trucks, or other bikes, and what the likelihood is of injury or damage to other vehicles or the driver of the bike?

A:This is not new technology, as the release states: The technology is commonly used by existing e-bikes, including Citi Bike’s popular pedal-assist models.

And finally, are drivers of these e-bikes required to take any sort of safety course to enable them to more safely share the road/sidewalk with fellow bicyclists, drivers, and pedestrians?

From the editor: While all cyclists, including cargo e-bike cyclists, should familiarize themselves with safety rules and other applicable laws, as in the link above, there is not at this time a requirement for cyclists of any type to take a safety course.  

 

New York – New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez  announced that the agency has authorized the use of e-cargo bikes on city streets and established key safety standards. New rules announced are designed to make deliveries safer and more sustainable by reducing the number of large delivery trucks on New York City streets. Large delivery trucks can present safety risks to pedestrians, cyclists, and other road users; are less environmentally-friendly; and often double-park on busy roadways or on sidewalks.

 

“Building a more sustainable city means reimagining deliveries in New York City,” said New York City Mayor Eric Adams. “For too long, large trucks have been the only option, bringing congestion and pollution with them. Low- and no-emission cargo bikes are one of the ways that we’re changing that paradigm, so we can get what we want, when we want it, without poisoning our air or clogging our streets. From these new rules, to using our rivers more for deliveries through our Blue Highways initiative, to establishing microdelivery hubs, to the coming creation of a new Department of Sustainable Deliveries, we’re making it easier and cleaner for New Yorkers to get their goods and services.”

 

“The pandemic fundamentally changed the way we shop; now, 80% of us get at least one package delivered a week. We are accommodating this change in consumer culture– and preparing for congestion pricing– by encouraging environmental package delivery, away from cars and trucks,” said New York City Deputy Mayor for Operations Meera Joshi. “This is the way of the future- along with leveraging our waterways and creating delivery hubs for freight to go directly onto bikes. With these innovations, New York City will be the greenest city in the nation.”

 

“Achieving a safer and greener transportation future includes reducing the number of large, high-polluting trucks on our streets,” said NYC DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez. “Authorizing these new delivery options will better protect our environment and all road users.”

 

The finalized rules increase low- or no-emission options for freight deliveries — including packages and groceries — by allowing the use of pedal-assist electric-cargo bicycles that may be up to 48 inches wide and have up to four wheels. NYC DOT will provide e-cargo bike operators with safety training and educational materials on e-cargo bike use and battery charging.

 

The rules expand the legal definition of “bicycle” to include “pedal-assist bicycle” and define “commercial bicycle” as a bicycle used to transport commercial goods. The rules also establish new curb regulations— a “Commercial Bicycle Loading Only” zone—to allow dedicated space at the curb for cargo bikes to load and unload goods.

 

New York City supports e-micromobility deliveries through innovative policies and enhanced street designs while promoting safety education and training guidelines for cargo bike riders. These steps will provide for a harmonious integration of e-cargo bikes in a sustainable manner into the landscape of New York City.

 

NYC DOT made several adjustments to draft rules proposed last year based on feedback received during the public comment period. Four key adjustments from the proposed rules include:

• To address safety concerns, the e-cargo bike speed limit was reduced from the proposed 20 miles per hour to 15 miles per hour.
• To address concerns about pedestrian access, e-cargo bikes cannot be parked or be left unattended on a sidewalk for any reason—even temporarily.
• To encourage proper loading of e-cargo bikes, riders must make sure the e-cargo bike complies with the manufacturer’s weight rating specifications.
• To encourage the adoption of e-cargo bikes and to addresses concerns that the previously proposed rules would prohibit commonly manufactured cargo bike models, the maximum length and height allowances were expanded.
  • The maximum length of cargo bikes, including bike and trailer combinations, increased from 10 feet to 16 feet.
  • The maximum height increased from 78 inches to 84 inches.
  • These expanded dimensions will enable small businesses and logistics companies to replace larger trucks and vans with cargo bicycle models successfully deployed in other cities and countries.

Since NYC DOT’s launch of its Commercial Cargo Bike pilot program in 2019, cargo bike deliveries have increased significantly in New York City. In 2022, cargo bikes made more than 130,000 trips, delivering over five million packages. This demonstrates their effectiveness for making deliveries and resulted in the reduction of over 650,000 metric tons of CO2 emissions, the equivalent of emissions generated by 1.6 billion miles driven by an average gas-powered passenger vehicle.

 

The pedal-assist feature of these e-cargo bikes activates a small motor only when users are pedaling. The technology is commonly used by existing e-bikes, including Citi Bike’s popular pedal-assist models.

 

These new cargo bike rules represent one of multiple ongoing initiatives the city is working on to support safer, more sustainable, and more efficient last-mile delivery options. NYC DOT is also working to install delivery “microhubs,” where trucks can safely offload to smaller, greener alternatives like cargo bikes. The agency is also installing publicly accessible delivery locker hubs to help better manage home deliveries through a forthcoming program called LockerNYC. Additionally, through Blue Highways, the city is working to reactivate its ports to accommodate marine freight.

Banner Image: NYC DOT Commissioner with new e-cargo bike. Image Credit – NYC DOT