New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo vetoed a bill Thursday to legalize electric scooters and bikes across the state, citing the lack of a helmet requirement and other safety concerns.
Overwhelmingly passed by the New York legislature in June, the bill would have effectively lifted a statewide ban on e-scooters and e-bikes and allow local jurisdictions to pass their own related laws and regulations.
Mr. Cuomo, a Democrat, said in his veto explanation that the bill lacked several safety measures, including specifically a requirement that riders wear helmets, among others.
“E-bikes and e-scooters carry the potential to be a useful tool in changing the way we travel and reducing greenhouse gas emissions,” Mr. Cuomo wrote. “They do, however, carry significant safety concerns.”
Later Thursday, Mr. Cuomo said in a tweet, “There is no need for us to choose between legalizing e-bikes and safety, and I will propose a bill that does both on January 8.”
Approved in Albany by a wide margin, the bill vetoed by Mr. Cuomo would have broadly legalized e-bikes and e-scooters and let cities decide how to regulate them further.
Proponents of the bill had argued it would increase transportation options, especially for delivery workers who use throttled-controlled bikes in spite of the state’s current ban.
New York City maintains its own ban on e-bikes and e-scooters, meaning lawmakers in Manhattan would have have needed to pass their own rules to permit either mode of transportation, however.
• Andrew Blake can be reached at ablake@washingtontimes.com.
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