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THE ASSEMBLY STATE OF NEW YORK ALBANY Committeeon Cities Great Lakes Watershed Task Force COMMITTEES Banks Governmental Employees Science & Technology Tourism, Parks, Arts & Sports Development Assemblyman 44pm District Erie County September 28, 2026 Dear Mayor, When my wife and I bought an e-bike for our 15-year-old son last Christmas, we had no idea that it would lead to such a painful outcome. The truth is that I didn’t begin to focus on state and local e-bike laws until my son was involved in a crash so serious that he had to spend four days in Golisano Children’s Hospital of Buffalo. Fortunately, he has now made a full recovery—but the shock our family suffered makes me want to do everything I can to inform and protect other families. E-bike-related pediatric injuries have skyrocketed, this year. According to Chief Medical Officer Dr. Dori Marshall, GCH Buffalo treated only 10 such injuries in all of 2024. Last year, the number more than quadrupled to 45. By the start of September 2026—with months left to go in the year—the count of e-bike-related visits to GCH Buffalo was already 114. This public health emergency is not limited to young people, however. Of the 12 deaths since 2024 involving e-bikes and e-scooters identified by the Erie County Medical Examiner’s Office, only one crash killed a child under 19; the rest took the lives of adults aged 30 to 69. Causing injuries more common with motorcycles than bicycles, these fatal accidents occurred in rural, suburban, and urban areas, In the New York State Assembly, we acknowledge that there are positive aspects to more affordable modes of transportation, especially with soaring gas prices. My colleagues and I are advancing numerous bills to try to make e-bike and e-scooter use safer for everybody—and to address what is rapidly becoming a serious public safety concern. I’m hopeful that in the upcoming legislative session, lawmakers will pass robust, comprehensive statewide safety standards and enforcement measures. But as we all know, state lawmaking is a frustratingly slow remedy for urgent problems. P’m writing today for two reasons: First, I want to make sure that every village, town, and city in Erie County is familiar with current NYS law related to e-bikes and e-scooters. Second, want to applaud the work that some Erie County communities have already done, and encourage every municipality to consider commonsense regulations that can be adopted right now. CURRENT NEW YORK STATE LAW No one under 16 may operate an e-bike. §1242(2) No one under 16 may operate (or ride as a passenger on} an e-scooter. §1282/4) No e-scooter may be operated faster than 15 mph. §1282(64) E-bikes may not provide motor assistance above 20 mph anywhere in Western New York. §1242(9) All e-bikes sold or leased must have a manufacturer's label identifying their class, maximum motor-assisted speed, and motor wattage. All e-bikes operated on public roads must have that label. §1242(11)