New Yorkers need to make way for super-sized cargo electric bikes under the city’s new plans.
Local legislation proposed by the Department of Transportation would allow four-foot-wide four-wheel, pedal-assisted light trucks to operate, roughly the width of a golf cart.
Bicycles make the last mile of delivery greener and more efficient, according to the Department of Transportation. Since the pandemic, the use of delivery services such as Amazon has skyrocketed.
“The freight industry sees pedal-assisted freight bikes as an opportunity to test consolidation and small-scale deliveries in confined urban spaces, avoiding tickets and reducing the negative impact on traffic and street safety. We believe there is an attendant advantage of this,” the agency said. The announcement made on Monday.
A typical city bike lane is 6 feet wide. Cyclists told Gossamist last month that a recent crash on the Manhattan Bridge bike path highlighted the growing risk of accidents as bicycles, e-bikes and mopeds compete for space. It is said that
If approved, the proposal would expand the use of commercial cargo bikes. The bike first appeared on city streets in 2019. pilot program. According to DOT data, he had more than 5 million packages delivered by cargo bike last year. In April, the city announced the use of “micro-hubs,” in which trucks unload packages onto e-bikes in the final stages of delivery.
The Department of Transportation announced that Your own electric pedal-assisted four-wheel cargo bike It was named “Cargi B” in May. With a windshield, this bike looks like a small van with pedals.
Just two electric cargo bikes can replace one traditional delivery truck. According to the agency, this is equivalent to removing 30,872 miles from a passenger car.
Current city regulations do not allow cargo bikes over 36 inches wide. Also, the number of wheels must be less than four.
In Albany, a legislative effort to allow e-bikes to carry more luggage has failed. The proposed rule would apply only to New York City, bypassing Albany.
The announcement of the proposal opens a 30-day public comment period prior to a virtual hearing scheduled for September 13 at 10:00 am.
“Cargo bikes have become a valuable tool in the government’s efforts to move goods around the city while prioritizing street safety and the environment, and these pedal-assisted cargo bikes will reduce carbon footprint and traffic congestion. It helps New Yorkers get what they need while mitigating: keeping dangerous trucks off the streets,” Mayor Eric Adams said in a release.