By: Don Driggers

As New York City ramps up efforts to regulate the booming moped and e-bike industry, the latest police data shows the 19th Precinct on the Upper East Side issued the most summonses in Manhattan so far this year, amNY first reported.

Since the start of 2025, the precinct has issued 1,650 summonses for moving violations to e-bike and moped operators. The enforcement comes amid a 100% increase in e-bike collisions in the precinct compared to the same period last year, amNY reported.

While e-bike incidents have surged, moped collisions in the precinct are down 74%, and officers have issued 2% fewer violations for mopeds this year than in 2024, according to city police records reviewed by amNY.

E-bike operators, like all drivers, are required to follow traffic laws and can be ticketed for offenses such as riding on sidewalks, going against traffic, and failing to yield to pedestrians, amNY reported.

Meanwhile, Central Park, long a flashpoint for complaints about reckless e-bike riding, has seen a modest increase in citations. The Central Park Precinct issued only 20 e-bike summonses this year — up from zero during the same period in 2024 — making it the second-lowest in Manhattan, just ahead of the 33rd Precinct, amNY reported.

Moped enforcement in Central Park is also low, with only 23 summonses issued so far in 2025, compared to 92 in 2024, the precinct’s records show. Despite the low numbers, officers emphasized that e-bike safety remains a priority. “E-bike enforcement is very important to us here in Central Park. We want everyone to follow the rules and regulations of Central Park at all times,” the precinct posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Oct. 9, amNY reported.

Safety advocates are pressing for a ban on e-bikes in Central Park after collisions there rose 400% this year, increasing from 2 to 10 incidents. Janet Schroeder, co-founder of the NYC E-Vehicle Safety Alliance, told amNY that park-goers and families frequently report injuries caused by e-bikes. “Many people, especially older New Yorkers and people with disabilities, can no longer visit Central Park for fear of being hit by a heavy motorized vehicle,” she said.

Across Manhattan, most precincts have reported an uptick in e-bike summonses. Enforcement is expected to intensify with the introduction of a new 15 mph speed limit for e-bikes starting Oct. 24, down from the previous limit of 20–25 mph, amNY reported. The rule already applies to electric Citi Bikes, which Mayor Eric Adams required Lyft to implement in June.

“This new 15 mph speed limit for e-bikes is about keeping New Yorkers safe while continuing to keep our city moving,” Adams said last month when announcing the rule. “As more New Yorkers turn to e-bikes and e-scooters to get around our city, New Yorkers have asked us to set clear, consistent rules to address this issue and protect everyone,” he added, amNY reported.

The enforcement and new regulations highlight the city’s commitment to balancing the convenience of personal electric vehicles with public safety, particularly in neighborhoods like the Upper East Side and public spaces such as Central Park, amNY reported.