Mayor Adams Takes Action To Make City Streets Safer: Announces Citywide Speed Limit for E-Bikes and E-Scooters, Presses City Council for Action on Stalled Legislation To Protect Delivery Workers

June 4, 2025

Proposed Rule Prohibits E-Bikes and E-Scooters from Traveling Faster Than 15 Miles-Per-Hour on City Streets

Mayor Adams Says Enforcement and Physical Safety Measures Can Only Go So Far: Pushes for Council Action on Adams Administration Bill to Create Commercial Delivery License to Strengthen Delivery Worker, Battery, and Traffic Safety

NEW YORK – New York City Mayor Eric Adams today announced a slate of new policies to enhance street safety, including a citywide 15 mile-per-hour speed limit for e-bikes and e-scooters on city streets. Recognizing that enforcement and physical safety measures can only go so far, Mayor Adams also renewed a push for the City Council to take up legislation he announced to create a commercial delivery license to strengthen delivery worker, battery, and traffic safety. Originally announced by Mayor Adams during his 2024 State of the City address, the proposed legislation to create a Department of Sustainable Delivery has stalled in the City Council for over nine months, without introducing it or holding a single public hearing on it. Meanwhile, the Adams administration has held multiple roundtable discussions with app companies, bike companies, transportation advocacy groups, Business Improvement Districts (BIDs), hospitality industry leaders, and delivery workers, all of which City Council staff were invited to.

"I have heard, over and over again, from New Yorkers about how their safety — and the safety of their children — has been put at risk due to speeding e-bikes and e-scooters, and today, our administration is saying enough is enough: We are implementing a new 15-mile-per-hour speed limit for e-bikes and e-scooters that will make our streets safer," said Mayor Adams. "We're proud of the work we've done to expand biking across the five boroughs, but we have an obligation to keep everyone safe. We are also calling on our partners in the City Council to pass our long-proposed legislation that will strengthen delivery worker safety — it's time to protect delivery workers and all New Yorkers, once and for all."

"With record bike ridership and a historic expansion of our protected bike lane network, we're making it safer and easier than ever for the record number of New Yorkers choosing cycling by building infrastructure and providing education to meet the moment," said New York City Department of Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez. "Thankfully, the vast majority of e-bike and stand-up e-scooter users operate their devices safely, but we are using every tool in our safety toolkit and studying worldwide best practices, to ensure every New Yorker is traveling at safe speeds on our streets." 

The proposed rule to establish a speed limit would prohibit e-bikes, electric scooters, and pedal-assist commercial bicycles from operating at speeds greater than 15 miles-per-hour on city streets, the same speed limit that currently applies to stand up e-scooters. The new rules would also mirror best practices for e-bike speeds in many other areas of the world, including the European Union, which has implemented speed limits for e-bikes of 25 kilometers-per-hour (approximately 15 miles-per-hour) in bike lanes.

Mayor Adams also today announced the city is exploring installing additional physical safety measures in city parks, including Central Park and Prospect Park, to protect both riders of e-bikes and pedestrians walking near them.

This announcement is the latest step Mayor Adams is taking to enhance public safety for all New Yorkers. The Adams administration has built a record 87.5 miles of new protected bike lanes and upgraded an additional 20 miles of bike lanes in the past three years alone to meet record demand for bike infrastructure throughout New York City.

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