Several survivors of electric bicycle (e-bike) accidents appeared before the New York City Council on Wednesday, urging lawmakers to introduce stricter safety regulations and accountability measures for e-bike riders. The participants recounted their harrowing experiences, emphasizing the need for licensing, registration, and enhanced enforcement to protect pedestrians.

Julie Harvey described her May injury, when she was struck by a cyclist traveling downhill and running a stop sign. The impact caused her to fall and sustain a severe head injury, leaving her incapacitated. “I am very lucky to be alive,” she said, expressing frustration that the cyclist responsible faced no legal consequences. Harvey called on riders to take responsibility for the risks posed by e-bikes, noting that others currently bear the cost of these hazards.

In a similar testimony, Renee Baruch recounted a 2023 incident in which she was hit by an unidentified e-bike operator, resulting in significant facial lacerations, multiple fractures, and cervical spine damage. Baruch said the collision permanently changed her life and called for mechanisms to ensure accountability for those operating e-bikes dangerously.

Jean Kotler’s case was also highlighted. She was struck from behind in Central Park on July 7 by an e-bike traveling the wrong way in the wrong lane. The impact required surgeons to remove part of her skull. Kotler remains hospitalized three months later, still recovering from multiple surgeries. Her sister, Jessica Celano, called for the introduction of licensing and registration systems to hold reckless e-bike riders accountable.

Brooklyn resident Tonette Rivera shared the lasting effects of an e-bike crash that occurred while she was 20 weeks pregnant, two years ago. The collision forced her to remain hospitalized through the premature birth of her son at 28 weeks, who then spent three months in a neonatal intensive care unit. Rivera emphasized the advocacy for pedestrian safety and urged the City Council to take the issue seriously.

Another survivor, Pamela Manasse, detailed the consequences of a four-year-old e-bike accident that left her paralyzed on her right side and ended her career as a cellist. Manasse criticized the city’s current approaches as insufficient and called for straightforward solutions such as mandatory licensing and registration of all electric vehicles, which she said could effectively address the problem.

These testimonies come amid growing concerns about e-bike safety in New York City, where increased use of these vehicles has coincided with a rise in crashes involving pedestrians. Advocates contend that regulatory oversight has not kept pace with e-bike proliferation, leading to calls for reforms aimed at curbing reckless behavior and enhancing public safety. City officials have yet to respond with specific policy proposals following the hearing.