zap016VOLTAGE
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There appears to be two competing bills circulating:
From The Daily Gazette "New bills seek to clarify e-bike rules":
• Brooklyn Assemblyman Nick Perry’s bill, which has an identical counterpart in the state Senate sponsored by western New York Sen. Thomas O’Mara, would clarify the legal status of low-speed electric bicycles. The law would define such machines as bicycles with batteries that are 750 watts or less, and are operated via pedal assist (meaning the electric battery will only engage if the bike is being manually pedaled).
The bill also would require that such bikes can only reach a top speed of 20 MPH before the battery shuts off, and any additional speed would need to be obtained through human power or gravity (such as down a hill). Most importantly, the bill would allow for e-bikes defined that way to be operated on public streets and roads, which is prohibited under current rules.
• A coalition-supported bill introduced by state Senator Rich Funke out of Rochester would legalize on public roads all three classes of e-bikes: pedal assist, throttle and speed peddle. This last class refers to pedal assist e-bikes that can generally reach higher top speeds than standard pedal-assist models.
The Assembly bill clarifying the definition of e-bikes does not yet have any co-sponsors, while its state Senate counterpart has an ally in Sen. Martin Dilan of Brooklyn (in addition to its primary sponsor, O’Mara).
The state Senate bill seeking to legalize all three classes of e-bikes does not currently have any co-sponsors. Both bills were referred this month to the Assembly’s and Senate’s respective transportation committees. The coalition is seeking to get both laws passed next legislative session.
From The Daily Gazette "Open the roads to e-bikes":
"But a new generation of bicycles — which contain electronics that allow the bicyclist to pedal with greater ease or to rest while the bike does some of the work — is gradually becoming more popular. And New York state law must keep up with the changing times."
From The Daily Gazette "New bills seek to clarify e-bike rules":
• Brooklyn Assemblyman Nick Perry’s bill, which has an identical counterpart in the state Senate sponsored by western New York Sen. Thomas O’Mara, would clarify the legal status of low-speed electric bicycles. The law would define such machines as bicycles with batteries that are 750 watts or less, and are operated via pedal assist (meaning the electric battery will only engage if the bike is being manually pedaled).
The bill also would require that such bikes can only reach a top speed of 20 MPH before the battery shuts off, and any additional speed would need to be obtained through human power or gravity (such as down a hill). Most importantly, the bill would allow for e-bikes defined that way to be operated on public streets and roads, which is prohibited under current rules.
• A coalition-supported bill introduced by state Senator Rich Funke out of Rochester would legalize on public roads all three classes of e-bikes: pedal assist, throttle and speed peddle. This last class refers to pedal assist e-bikes that can generally reach higher top speeds than standard pedal-assist models.
The Assembly bill clarifying the definition of e-bikes does not yet have any co-sponsors, while its state Senate counterpart has an ally in Sen. Martin Dilan of Brooklyn (in addition to its primary sponsor, O’Mara).
The state Senate bill seeking to legalize all three classes of e-bikes does not currently have any co-sponsors. Both bills were referred this month to the Assembly’s and Senate’s respective transportation committees. The coalition is seeking to get both laws passed next legislative session.
From The Daily Gazette "Open the roads to e-bikes":
"But a new generation of bicycles — which contain electronics that allow the bicyclist to pedal with greater ease or to rest while the bike does some of the work — is gradually becoming more popular. And New York state law must keep up with the changing times."
