On Tuesday, May 19 Senator Dilan’s bill defining an electric assisted bicycle passed the Senate. The legislation mirrors federal standards limiting output and speed of the bicycles. If signed to law, municipalities can enact their own terms of use for the bicycles.

Currently e-bikes are illegal in the state of New York. Defining, and establishing operational criteria for electric assisted bicycles will clarify for authorities that these vehicles are more akin to bicycles than motorcycles. This will assist in interpreting the application of the appropriate vehicle and traffic laws to operators and passengers of these vehicles.