New York Metropolis’s Division of Transportation has a novel concept for serving to get the commonest uncertified e-bikes off town’s streets: let their riders swap them for a safer UL-compliant electrical bike at no cost.
This system targets supply staff on e-bikes, who’re the spine of town’s essential meals and parcel supply providers. Thousands and thousands of individuals depend on such staff for well timed deliveries, but the low wages and brutal circumstances of the job have pressured many riders to hunt out low-cost electrical bicycles to carry out the work—precisely the sort of e-bikes which can be least prone to have acquired security certifications.
The NYC DOT has already begun accepting functions for the brand new E-Bike Commerce-In Program, which is open to supply staff with non-compliant electrical bicycles in addition to the often-seen electrical scooters/mopeds that don’t actually qualify as e-bikes, regardless of their ubiquitous use within the trade.
Curiously, this system even accepts gasoline-powered mopeds that aren’t in a position to be legally registered with the DMV, together with those who lack VINs.
In trade for buying and selling in a non-certified car, the supply employee will obtain a brand new UL-certified electrical bike with a spare UL-certified battery.
There are a couple of necessities for eligibility. The employee has to have earned at the very least US $1,500 by working within the meals supply trade final yr in 2024, dwell in one of many 5 New York Metropolis boroughs, be at the very least 18 years outdated, and personal/use one of many eligible gadgets for trade-in.
This system is free to take part in with no extra value for the supply staff. Nonetheless, the availability of free electrical bicycles is described as “restricted.”
Free e-bikes will not be awarded on a first-come, first-served foundation. If the eligible applicant pool finally ends up exceeding the variety of free electrical bikes out there, the NYC DOT will use a lottery system to decide on program members.
These wishing to use can submit their functions anytime earlier than the applying window closes on March 10, 2025.
