In New York City, where our streets and sidewalks bustle with energy and purpose, most of us increasingly rely on so-called “micromobility.” Whether you are boosting your two-wheeled commute or ordering take-out, groceries, or something you purchased online, more e-bikes and scooters are coming our way on the city’s busy streets. While e-bikes offer us an efficient and environmentally friendly way to get around our city, Mayor Adams is tackling some important challenges head-on, including fire safety.
Last week, the mayor announced new steps to prevent deadly lithium-ion battery fires and promote safe e-bike charging and usage. The New York City Safe Charging Accelerator has three core components:
- New rules that would allow property owners to install safe, regulated e-bike battery swapping and charging cabinets on public sidewalks. This would shift more battery charging from inside apartments to safer outdoor infrastructure.
- The nation’s first municipal trade-in pilot program for eligible food delivery workers to swap unsafe e-bikes and other powered mobility devices and their batteries with certified, high-quality e-bikes and batteries.
- A $1 million public education campaign on the dangers of unsafe lithium-ion batteries.
The urgency behind these steps is underscored by disturbing trends since the pandemic: since 2019, lithium-ion battery fires have claimed the lives of 29 New Yorkers and injured more than 400 others. Shockingly, nearly 60% of these fires occurred while batteries were not even charging. Meanwhile, of the 30 traffic fatalities among cyclists last year, 23 were on e-bikes, a record. The sobering toll of death and injury underscores the critical need for proactive measures to reduce the risks from the expanding number of e-mobility devices on our streets.
A city Department of Transportation pilot launched earlier this year brought the first e-bike charging hubs to our streets, addressing previous regulatory barriers while promoting accessibility and safety for e-bike users. The new rules will build on this program to allow property owners to install battery swapping hubs outside their buildings. This will complement the administration’s other work to help promote e-bike riding, including the record production of protected bicycle lanes and the widening of protected lanes on major Manhattan avenues.
The administration is now also proposing rules to govern a first-in-the-nation trade-in program for unsafe e-bikes and batteries. Designed to incentivize the transition from uncertified and non-street legal devices to UL-certified e-bikes and batteries, this initiative will help participants dramatically reduce the risk of battery fires. We are prioritizing food delivery workers, who rely most heavily on these vehicles. Serving on the front lines of New York’s bustling food scene, these workers deserve access to reliable and safe equipment.
Equally crucial to safety are DOT’s and the Fire Department’s education campaigns, aimed at raising awareness about the e-bikes’ faster speeds and lithium-ion battery safety. Through targeted advertisements and community outreach, the campaigns are educating New Yorkers on best practices for riding these bikes as well as using and disposing of their batteries — emphasizing the importance of using certified batteries and avoiding repairs that compromise safety.
These efforts are not isolated; they are part of the mayor’s comprehensive “Charge Safe, Ride Safe” action plan unveiled last year. That plan outlined a multifaceted approach to promote safe battery usage, expand education initiatives, and advocate for greater regulation — at the local, state and federal level.
On this last point, we have also made major progress. The Council has shown leadership on several bills, and Gov. Hochul signed major legislation governing these batteries this month. After several FDNY trips to D.C., the House has also passed national uniform safety standards for batteries (we await Senate action). All levels of government have united towards the safe usage of these batteries — because we recognize electric micromobility is here to stay.
All these new initiatives and regulation mean more than just new ways to safely charge; they mark a cultural shift towards responsible e-mobility practices, empowering New Yorkers to adopt cleaner and greener transportation options without compromising safety or sustainability — all while cultivating an environment where innovation continues to flourish responsibly.
By taking these innovative steps to enhance the safety of New Yorkers where they live, work, and travel, we will save lives. The administration is removing barriers to safe charging, creating more welcoming infrastructure, implementing innovative trade-in programs, and educating the public — together paving the way to a safer and more sustainable New York.
Rodriguez and Kavanagh are, respectively, New York City’s transportation and fire commissioners.
