New York League of Conservation Voters
Contact: Shachar Sharon, ssharon@nylcv.org
For Immediate Release: October 8, 2019
212-361-6350 Ext. 206
Transportation and Environmental Advocates, Business Groups Call on Governor Cuomo to Sign Micromobility Law
Coalition of 20 organizations from across NY say e-bikes and e-scooters are “safe, environmentally-friendly modes of transportation that can make cities more livable”
New York, N.Y. – A group of 20 organizations – including transportation and environmental advocates, local government representatives, and business groups – sent a letter to Gov. Andrew Cuomo calling on him to sign into law a bill passed by the State Legislature in June, which authorizes local governments to allow electric bikes and scooters on their streets.
“Earlier this year you took a bold step to address the traffic crisis by leading the way on the nation’s first congestion pricing plan,” the coalition writes in the letter to Cuomo. “E-bikes and e-scooters can perfectly complement that plan – they are much safer than cars, emit no particulate matter or greenhouse gases, and are small and easily storable, making them ideal for urban areas. Electric micromobility makes moving away from cars easy for anyone regardless of age, ability, or health.
“In fact, e-bikes are already used by thousands of New Yorkers, many of whom are immigrant delivery workers who rely on the speed and cost-efficiency of e-bikes to make enough deliveries each day to eke out a living. Yet because the legal status of e-bikes is in doubt, these bikes are often confiscated by police and their riders ticketed, disrupting livelihoods and exposing people who have done nothing wrong to the criminal justice system.”
Groups signed on to the letter include:
New York League of Conservation Voters, Transportation Alternatives, Vision Long Island, Environmental Advocates of New York, New York State Conference of Mayors, Greater Flushing Chamber of Commerce, Parks and Trails New York, New York Bicycling Coalition , Queens Chamber of Commerce, Groundwork Hudson Valley, Center for Employment Opportunities, Waterfront Alliance, Capital Region Chamber of Commerce, New York State Tourism Industry Association, Tech:NYC, New York Building Congress, Tri-State Transportation Campaign, Bronx Chamber of Commerce, Manhattan Chamber of Commerce, Regional Plan Association.
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The New York League of Conservation Voters is the only non-partisan, statewide environmental organization in New York that takes a pragmatic approach to fighting for clean water, healthy air, renewable energy, and open space. For more information, visit www.nylcv.org.