NYC Common Sense, Local Politicians, Residents Legal Challenge To E-Bike Enforcement Suspension: Demand Restoration Of Protections For Street Safety

New York, NY – Attorney Jim Walden, chair of NYC Common Sense, an independent, nonpartisan government watchdog organization, today joined advocates, vulnerable pedestrians and e-bike victims in announcing a legal challenge against Mayor Zohran Mamdani and the City of New York over the mayor’s March 2026 directive ending criminal enforcement of e-bike violations.

A full recap of the press event can be found here.

A copy of the lawsuit can be found here.

“I am joined by advocates and victims all over this city to say that the mayor’s power does not include ignoring public safety,” Walden said. “Officers need the discretion to issue criminal summonses when e-bike drivers put pedestrians at risk, which is happening on every single street corner of every major thoroughfare in this city.”

Frank Morano, a sitting City Councilmember acting in his personal capacity, is the suit’s lead plaintiff. He is joined by seniors, a legally blind resident, and others with mobility challenges who are among the pedestrians most endangered by the unregulated e-bikes that are being recklessly ridden on city streets, sidewalks, and crosswalks. Following the mayor’s order that ended the NYPD’s ability to issue criminal summonses to out-of-control e-bike operators, at-risk pedestrians have no recourse if they are hit, and law enforcement has no tools to keep them safe.

“What should never happen is for any mayor, regardless of party, to effectively suspend laws that were duly enacted by the people’s elected representatives. That is not good government; that is just dangerous.” Morano remarked. “Public safety is not a war on e-bikes, it’s a defense of pedestrians. Common sense isn’t anti-bike, it’s pro public safety. But while we’re debating new laws, we shouldn’t stop enforcing the laws we already have, and unfortunately, that’s exactly what the mayor did.”

The complaint argues that the threat of high-speed e-bikes transforms neighborhoods into zones of exclusion, constructively denying the plaintiffs the ‘full and independent enjoyment’ of public accommodations guaranteed by the New York City Human Rights Law and forcing them to choose between total self-confinement and risking life-altering injury.

“Justice is a basic expectation of every New Yorker and every American for fairness and equal protection under the law,” said Andrew Fine, Steering Committee Member of EVSA. “In this city hall, the scales are wildly askew. On one side, we have e-bikes and high-speed e-bikes, and the rich and powerful apps that benefit from them, and on the other, we have innocent New Yorkers just trying to get around that are being hit, injured, and even killed by them.”

“I am legally blind. It’s a challenge for me, traveling around from Staten Island to Manhattan,” explained Staten Island resident Walter Matuza. “I work in Manhattan and coming to Manhattan every day is quite the feat, because you got these bikes that come flying by.”

“I’m a cyclist who wants laws. I want to be held accountable. I want to have to stop at a red light and not go the wrong way on a bike lane – we have that responsibility to pedestrians and other cyclists,” proclaimed Manhattan resident Wendy Peace. “I also have neighbors who can no longer go to the park because they’re petrified to walk across Central Park West because of the bikes going back and forth.”

“I couldn’t lift my left arm and needed to cradle it with my right… I had four fractures along my humerus… A titanium plate and nine screws were needed for the repair… Still, this accident became a crime, a hit-and-run, and there is no recourse except to tell the story, my story, and to hope for legislation that leads to stricter laws and accountability,” said bike accident victim Rita Rosenkranz.

Ultimately, the lawsuit seeks to allow the New York City Police Department (NYPD) and its officers to enforce the traffic laws based on their professional judgment on a case-by-case basis, including by issuing criminal summonses to e-bike drivers in appropriate circumstances.

Plaintiffs in the suit include:

The complaint cites key data points that show the policy ended by the current administration was indeed effective. Average fatalities, crashes, and injuries each declined by about 30% between April 28, 2025 and May 27, 2026. Although other enforcement activities by the NYPD helped reduce e-bike crashes and fatalities at the start of 2025, the period after the start of criminal enforcement resulted in an additional decline of almost 40%, including a steep drop in fatalities among e-bike riders.

“The e-bike chaos on our streets is getting worse,” said former Queens Councilmember Robert Holden. “Instead of demanding accountability for dangerous and reckless riding, this Mayor has essentially encouraged the continuation of illegal behavior. E-bike and e-mobility riders have been ignoring traffic laws for years. Without license plates or some identifying feature combined with real enforcement and penalties, the danger will only grow. My bill, Priscilla’s Law, offers a solution to this problem. But so far, the Mayor and the Council have lacked the political courage to act. Thankfully, NYC Common Sense does have the courage to stand up for vulnerable pedestrians.”