The New York City Council is considering a proposal that would require e-bike riders to register their vehicles and attach license plates with unique identification numbers.
The measure, called Priscilla’s Law, will be reviewed by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on Wednesday. It is named after Priscilla Loke, a 68-year-old woman who was struck and killed by an e-bike in Chinatown in September 2023.
Councilmembers will also examine other initiatives aimed at improving safety. One resolution, introduced by Councilmember Gale Brewer, calls on the state Legislature to pass the Commercial E-Bike Licensing Act, which would mandate registration for all commercial e-bikes and make employers liable for their riders.
Another bill proposes creating a task force to study ways to improve street design and infrastructure, addressing concerns about increasing traffic accidents.
Fatalities involving e-bikes have risen in recent years. According to the NYC Department of Transportation, deaths linked to e-bike incidents increased from nine in 2022 to 12 in 2023.
Supporters of the proposed regulations argue that registration and identification measures would help law enforcement hold riders accountable and improve safety. However, critics, including some delivery workers, caution that the changes could impose new financial and logistical burdens on those who rely on e-bikes for work.
