City Council Speaker Julie Menin is backing away from a major pillar of her proposed e-bike crackdown — as new legislation will no longer require registration, which safety advocates say is key to holding out-of-control riders accountable.
Menin is punting the issue to Albany rather than include it as part of her 17 bill legislative package of e-bike safety laws, marking a reversal from when she co-sponsored Priscilla’s Law, which would require such registration.
The decision to to not register the bikes bunts the impact the legal effort to stop danger from the powered personal vehicles, said Councilman Holden who sponsored Priscilla’s law in 2024.
“What the Council is doing is a halfhearted measure,” he said. “They’re not beholden to the citizens of New York City. They get their marching orders from PACs.”
Menin’s move comes as PACs funded by Uber and DoorDash dropped around $170,000 in independent expenditures supporting her reelection — and critics say that money from the powerful tech companies is what is stalling reform on the bike issue, as they don’t want to face more suits.
Menin flatly denied any influence and pointed out one of the measures she backs would strengthen licensing oversight across delivery platforms.
Sal Albanese, a former councilman who now works with Make Voters the Donors, said money talks.
“Legally, they’re probably not talking,” he said, “but it’s a wink and a nod.”
Advocates say that requiring the powered bikes to be registered and carry license plates would allow an injured pedestrian to identify a delivery rider and file an insurance claim against them or their the delivery app.
New York City’s TLC already licenses both the cars and the drivers for-hire vehicles, but Menin said she wants to follow New Jersey and have e-bikes register with the state DMV.
Albany has shown little appetite for Priscilla’s Law. State bills drew just six sponsors across both chambers in the last session.
Sponsor Senator Joseph Addabbo Jr. said his bill has been slow to gain momentum because lawmakers fear hurting delivery workers.
Council Majority Leader Shaun Abreu, who chairs the transportation committee, introduced five e-bike bills Thursday, focused on police enforcement and regulating sellers and delivery apps.
Abreu was also listed as a co-sponsor of Priscilla’s Law in 2024, but he told Hell Gate on Tuesday he no longer supports licensing and registration for e-bike riders.
“All of us want the streets to be safe for pedestrians and cyclists, but we have different ideas about what will get us there,” Abreu said.
His 2025 campaign received more than $250,000 in independent spending from Uber’s PAC.
“I call it legal bribery,” Albanese said. “Uber PAC donating significant amounts of money to the councilmember definitely had an impact on his decision making.”
Abreu has supported legislation regulating delivery apps since Uber’s spending.
A spokesperson for Uber declined to say whether the delivery giant supports Priscilla’s Law.
E-bikes are increasingly dangerous for New Yorkers as crashes involving e-bikes and e-scooters are up more than 30% from last year.
Safety advocates said nothing short of registration will work.
“The biggest way to affect change is to hold riders accountable,” Janet Schroeder, director of the E-Vehicle Safety Alliance, said. “If they flee the scene of a crash, they would have accountability.”
Schroeder said she’s optimistic Priscilla’s Law will pass at the state level.
Holden was not.
“The state won’t, because they’re also in the pocket of special interests,” he said.
