Last month, New York City’s Department of Transportation authorized the use of electric cargo bikes on city streets, and put some key safety standards in place. On March 27, NYC DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez announced the amendments to the city’s traffic rules to allow the operation of “pedal-assist commercial bicycles,” saying “Achieving a safer and greener transportation future includes reducing the number of large, high-polluting trucks on our streets.
“Building a more sustainable city means reimagining deliveries in New York City. For too long, large trucks have been the only option, bringing congestion and pollution with them. Low- and no-emission cargo bikes are one of the ways that we’re changing that paradigm, so we can get what we want, when we want it, without poisoning our air or clogging our streets.
The definition says the e-cargo bikes can measure up to 4 feet wide and 16 feet long and 7 feet high, and can have up to 4 wheels. These larger dimensions are meant to let small businesses and logistics firms ” to replace larger trucks and vans with cargo bicycle models successfully deployed in other cities and countries.
Taking into account the need for pedestrians to have free access to sidewalks, the rule also states that the e-cargo bikes “cannot be parked or be left unattended on a sidewalk for any reason — even temporarily,” which could become a huge issue in the absence of such a rule.
Derek lives in southwestern New Mexico and digs bicycles, simple living, fungi, organic gardening, sustainable lifestyle design, bouldering, and permaculture. He loves fresh roasted chiles, peanut butter on everything, and buckets of coffee.
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