They call it the upper chamber for a reason.
State senators say amending the state's laws to meet the statewide proliferation e-bikes may be necessary, now that policy objectives have grown beyond simply legalizing the devices.
State Sen. Jessica Ramos (D-Queens) said yesterday that the patchwork of local regulations and enforcement for e-bikes suggest there is still work to do. Ramos championed e-bike legalization at a time when the then-illegal devices were almost strictly used by delivery workers — making them a target for cops.
"Certainly, I know that there are concerns over people who have been hurt by e-bikes," she told reporters. "I am also worried about people who have been hurt by cars and trucks, and so as I think we increase different measures, different ways of getting around, we'll certainly have to amend the law in order to keep up with what's happening in the state."
New Jersey passed a disastrous piece of legislation in January that created a new registration and licensing system for e-bikes --- basically treating microbility devices as cars. The state also did away with a class system that separated e-bikes and mopeds by their speed and manner of acceleration (throttle or pedal assist).
Critics say such legislation does nothing to address safety concerns, which often stem from the sale and use of illegal e-motos and poor bike infrastructure.
State Senators share their Assembly colleagues' interest in exploring e-bike regulations in light of safety concerns across the state, but they did seem to have a better grasp of what they were talking about.
At the same time, they're preparing their budget rebuttals, which should be released sometime in March, and deciding whether or not they want to follow New Jersey isn't leading the list of priorities.
Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins added that the rest of the country could serve as inspiration for what New York does ... eventually.
"Is it a topic of conversation for us at this moment? No," she said, "but I'm sure that we will take a look at what New Jersey or any other state is doing around this issue."
In other news:
- Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado dropped his long-shot bid for governor (just days after securing a running mate) and Gov. Hochul didn't so much as mention him in her statement, while Stewart-Cousins quipped, "good idea." (Politico)
- New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is returning to Albany for Tin Cup Day, where he'll push for more state aid as the city faces a budget gap. (Politico)
- Railroad crossings on Long Island only add to the roadway carnage, writes Alfonso Castillo. (Newsday)
- A drunk driver crashed near Farmingdale, and his car caught fire before he was arrested by Nassau police. (News 12 Long Island)
- A federal audit found that $196 million was paid to transport companies enrolled in the Medicaid-funded Non-Emergency Medical Transportation program for rides that did not or may not have met Medicaid requirements. (New York Post)
- Artists who craft their work with MetroCards are running out of supplies now that the MTA his phasing out their use. (New York Times)
- The Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority received federal environmental approval for its proposed expansion to the Buffalo suburbs. (BTPM)
- A new survey shows that automated vehicles are not popular. (Gothamist)
- The Trump administration's decision to remove the pride flag from the Stonewall National Monument in the West Village makes a mockery of the very purpose of the monument itself, namely to ensure that LGBTQ history is never erased. (NY Times)
- Gov. Hochul will bring her car insurance premium campaign to Suffolk County, a corner of the state where she isn't much liked. It's at least the third time she's held a presser to push her unpopular attempt to lower car insurance costs by reducing compensation to victims of car crashes. But with Uber money behind her, she'll keep linking allegedly high insurance costs to "affordability" — lest, as we reported yesterday, Uber starts spending millions on someone else.
