Private companies nod toward calls to increase e-bike safety

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Some companies appear to be taking steps to help make e-bikes safer amid a spate of deadly battery fires in NYC. Uber announced this week that it will subsidize trade-in programs that seek to make UL-certified e-bike batteries cheaper to purchase.

Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2023.With e-bikes causing deadly fires and delivery workers scrambling to make ends meet, the private sector that has spawned a booming food delivery business has been repeatedly attacked for not doing enough to address the problems that have accompanied the industry’s rapid growth.

Couriers, who are largely recent immigrants to the city, often rely on cheaper off-brand batteries to start work and to keep up with demand, as higher-quality, reputable batteries from companies like Bosch or Shimano can cost anywhere from $500 to $950, depending on the model. Goldstein said because the market is oversaturated with different types of e-bikes, with many having unique battery compatibility, e-bikers looking for safer lithium-ion batteries must purchase entirely new units.

“New York City must ensure delivery workers can access safe, affordable e-bikes without being at the mercy of private companies,” Guallpa said.substantial local pushbackThat’s where Whizz, a New York-based startup, claims it can fill a persistent need. The subscription-based service charges e-bikers $170 a month to rent the company’s machines. And co-founder Mike Peregudov said Whizz will also open three new rest stops for delivery workers in Brooklyn and Manhattan.

 

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NYC did just fine for centuries with normal, human-powered bicycles. We don't need e-bikes.

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