NYC to Refund Tickets Previously Given to Riders of E-Bikes and E-Scooters, Now Legal

By Yehudit Garmaise

   Now that e-bikes and e-scooters are legal in New York City, as of yesterday, the city has begun to refund the $500 tickets that were previously given to riders of the popular low-cost and fun mode of transportation, which is especially popular with food delivery people.

  After years of both New York City and state outlawing e-bikes and e-scooters, the City Council voted back in April for their legalization, which just went into effect on Monday.

   “The NYPD has been…working closely with the courts to withdraw previously issued summonses for their mere operation in anticipation of the upcoming change in law,” NYPD Transportation Chief Kim Royster said in a statement. 

    Although Mayor Bill de Blasio, who once was sideswiped by a someone on an e-scooter, had previously supported a crackdown on e-bikes and e-scooter, when the COVID-19 pandemic restricted the restaurant industry to providing takeout and delivery-only, the mayor reasonably, ended the city’s harsh enforcement of disallowing the popular bikes and scooters.

   In addition to drawing pricey tickets, riders’ e-bikes and e-scooters previously were confiscated along with tickets, a result that was punishing and frustrating to delivery people, many of whom faced robberies and muggings through the COVID crisis and who depended on their modes of “micro-transportation” as they are called, for their livelihoods. 

   Some workers, Legal Aid delivery worker attorney Steven Wasserman told the New York Post, will be able to reclaim their impounded e-bikes.

   Although the fines for merely riding e-scooters and e-bikes will be withdrawn, the tickets will not be reversed for riders who ran red lights and committed other unsafe practices, the NYPD said.

Photo by: Calgary, AB, Canada