Senator Kristen Gonzalez Makes Streets Safer, Introduces Legislation t
NY Senator Kristen Gonzalez Office
Senator Kristen Gonzalez Makes Streets Safer, Introduces Legislation to Ban the Sale of E-Motos
New York lawmakers have introduced legislation targeting the sale and marketing of high-speed electric vehicles that do not meet state requirements for legal e-bikes and scooters. Senate Bill S.10700, sponsored by State Senator Kristen Gonzalez, would establish definitions for e-motos and electric off-highway motorcycles while restricting how certain vehicles can be sold and advertised. The proposal follows growing concern over faster electric devices operating on New York City streets and bike lanes, including after a fatal collision on the Queensboro Bridge this summer. The legislation would also require consumer warnings and address retailers that market noncompliant vehicles as conventional e-bikes or scooters. Supporters say the approach focuses enforcement on sellers while preserving access to legal micromobility options.
Senator Kristen Gonzalez Makes Streets Safer, Introduces Legislation to Ban the Sale of E-Motos
New York State Senator Kristen Gonzalez (SD-59), Chair of the Senate Committee on Internet and Technology, and Assemblymember Diana Moreno (AD-36), introduced S.10700 legislation to prohibit the sale of illegal high-speed electric vehicles, commonly known as “e-motos.” The bill would establish a clear definition for e-motos, prohibit the sale of models that cannot legally be operated on New York streets, require a warning, and prevent retailers from falsely advertising these vehicles as legal e-bikes, e-scooters, and mopeds.
The legislation comes in response to the growing presence of high-speed electric vehicles capable of reaching speeds exceeding 20 miles per hour which are not legal to ride on New York streets and bike lanes. The urgency of this issue was underscored by the tragic crash on the Queensboro Bridge this summer, located in both Senator Gonzalez and Assemblymember Moreno’s districts. The fatal incident involved an illegal high-speed e-scooter and a bicycle.
Under current state and New York City law, electric scooters and bicycles have strict operation requirements including speed limits. However, these illegal vehicles, some of which are capable of speeds more than 50 mph, continue to be sold through distributors and online retailers. Often, these devices are labeled as “e-bikes” or “e-scooters,” but don’t meet the legal requirements to operate these devices on New York State roads and bike lanes. This labeling can mislead customers into thinking they are buying a legal and safe device.
The legislation would:
- Create a legal definition for “E-Motos” as vehicles that travel over 20 MPH that are not defined in the Vehicle Traffic Law as e-bikes or e-scooters, and are not required to be licensed by the DMV.
- Prohibit retailers and online retailers from selling E-Motos to purchasers in New York State.
- Create a legal definition for “electric off-highway motorcycles” and require these devices to be sold by licensed ATV dealers.
- Require retailers and online retailers to provide a warning that E-Motos and electric off-highway motorcycles are not legal to ride on New York State roads and are not legal to sell to purchasers in New York State.
- Prohibit E-Motos and electric off-highway motorcycles from being advertised or listed for sale as “e-bikes” or “e-scooters.”
Micromobility vehicles are an essential transportation alternative for New Yorkers. This legislation is designed to preserve those benefits while preventing unsafe and unlawful vehicles from undermining public confidence and putting people at risk.
By addressing deceptive sales practices and restricting the availability of e-motos online, this bill aims to improve consumer protections, strengthen traffic safety, and ensure that New York’s streets remain safe for everyone who uses them.
Senator Kristen Gonzalez said, “For years, people across my district and across New York City have been demanding a basic-right for their communities: safer streets where our neighbors can commute across town confident in their safety on the roads. Following dozens of tragic accidents and barriers to micromobility, as well as hundreds of advocates and community members who’ve demanded better, we have made real progress in protected bike lanes and accessibility. This bill is the next step in ensuring that our streets are safe. By banning the sale of illegal e-motos and focusing on the point of sale issues, we’re bringing safety and transparency to our neighbors, while stopping deceptive business practices.”
Assemblymember Diana Moreno said, “Dangerous, illegal e-motos can reach speeds of over fifty miles an hour. The recent deaths involving them confirm they don’t belong on New York streets. Many of our neighbors depend on e-bikes and other micromobility devices to get around or for their livelihoods, and they deserve to be safe while using them. That’s why I am proud to introduce legislation with Senator Gonzalez to ban the sale and false advertising of e-motos. I am ready to work with Senator Gonzalez, DOT, my colleagues in the state legislature, and street safety advocates to pass this bill in the upcoming legislative session. Together, we will ensure that all New Yorkers can feel safe using our public streets.”
Senator Liz Krueger said, “I am proud to stand with Senator Gonzalez and our colleagues today to support this legislation, which will play a crucial role in preventing the sale of illegal and dangerous e-motos. These devices are responsible for the majority of deaths connected to micromobility devices and this bill will be an important step in preventing their sale, both in physical stores and by large online retailers.”
NYC DOT Commissioner Mike Flynn said, “Two of the biggest factors of the severity of a traffic crash are the speed and weight of a vehicle, which is why the proliferation of faster, heavier illegal e-mobility devices is such an alarming trend on our streets. While legal e-mobility remains a great option to get around the city, faster illegal e-mobility devices are dangerous for everyone who shares our streets, including riders. We thank Senator Gonzalez for introducing this bill to help keep New Yorkers safe on our streets.”
Ben Furnas, Executive Director of Transportation Alternatives, said, “We can’t sit by while retailers put New Yorkers in danger. This bill is an important step to keep pedestrians and cyclists safe, and we thank our partners in government for pushing forward this commonsense legislation. It's past time to end the sale of these deadly devices and ban the predatory marketing that lies to New Yorkers that these devices are safe or legal. We're grateful to Senator Gonzalez and Assembly Member Moreno for their work to ensure only safe, legal devices are on the streets of New York City."
Elizabeth McLaurin, a member of Families for Safe Streets, said, "My grandson Jayden was killed when he was riding his bike home. My grandson was able to ride a safe, slow, legal e-bike — but too many other New Yorkers are pushed toward dangerous, high speed, and often illegal devices. While these devices often look like e-bikes — and are falsely marketed as such — they're dangerous and illegal devices that put New Yorkers at risk. Thank you to both Senator Gonzales and Assembly Member Moreno for standing with Families for Safe Streets and working to build a New York City where everyone gets home safely at the end of the day."
Eric McClure, Executive Director of StreetsPAC, said, “We’re grateful to Senator Gonzalez and Assemblymember Moreno for spearheading this legislation that will go a very long way toward keeping illegal, high-speed electric devices masquerading as e-bikes from ever reaching the streets of New York’s cities and towns. We urge the Senate and Assembly to take it up at the earliest opportunity in the coming legislative session.”
Anne Savage, Executive Director, New York Bicycling Coalition, and Co-Chair, NYS Safe Streets Coalition said, “People across New York State should be able to trust that if they buy something sold as an e-bike, it’s safe and legal to ride in New York. If it’s not legal to ride, it shouldn’t be legal to sell.”
Ligia Guallpa, Executive Director of Workers Justice Project, said, ““Street safety is a top priority for app-based delivery workers, whose workplace is the streets of New York City. We applaud Senator Gonzalez for introducing legislation to ban unsafe, illegal e-motos at the point of sale. We support removing these hazards and illegal devices while ensuring delivery workers’ voices are at the center of a safe and equitable transition plan to safer micromobility, with investments in street infrastructure and e-micromobility lanes.”
Anatole Ashraf, Chair of Queens Community Board 2, said, "I commute by e-bike, I go to Costco on my e-bike, and I carry my child on one to school and other activities. Several times a week I'm on the Queensboro Bridge, Vernon Boulevard, or in a protected lane when something doing 35mph comes up behind me with no warning. That isn't an e-bike — it's an unregistered motorcycle, sold to someone who was told otherwise. Our bike lanes now carry an exponentially-growing number of commuters, delivery workers, and families, and everyone is safer when the rules are clear. This bill is sensible legislation that draws the line at the point of sale, where it belongs, rather than putting it on riders who are already following the law."
Athanasios Magoutas, Transportation Committee Chair of Queens Community Board 1, said, "As we work towards a safer, more efficient and modernized streetscape, it's crucial that we have legislation like this that clearly sets boundaries for what is legal and safe to operate on our streets. I echo our chair Evie's comments and I would also like to thank Senator Kristen Gonzales for moving quickly on bringing forth this legislation, given the rapidly evolving market for micromobility devices."
Reilly Owens, Transportation Committee Chair of Queens Community Board 2, said, “New York's investment in a real bike network worked. Protected lanes and bridge paths are carrying more commuters, delivery workers, and families every year. But illegal e-motos are being marketed as e-bikes and scooters, and consumers often don't know they've bought something that can't legally be ridden here. Clear rules restricting the sale of these vehicles are necessary to protect cyclists and pedestrians."
