Thursday, October 1, 2026
It’s time to turn the spotlight on our roadways toward the growing use of e-bikes and electric scooters. This has become one of the most frequent concerns I hear from residents lately.
The increase in the numbers of these vehicles has made driving and walking through our community feel at times like navigating an obstacle course. Riders speed, weave through traffic, ignore stop signs and enter roadways without warning. This endangers everyone who may have only a split second to react.
Although much of the concern focuses on young riders, this isn’t just a young-person issue. There are adults operating e-bikes and scooters carelessly, riding against traffic or on sidewalks, and ignoring traffic controls. Everyone operating one of these vehicles must follow the rules of the road and respect those around them.
I’ve seen children who appear to be as young as 10 darting across streets with little awareness of other vehicles or pedestrians. Many aren’t wearing helmets, while others carry passengers on vehicles not designed for more than one person, increasing the possibility that a moment of carelessness will result in serious injury, or tragedy.
The number of e-bikes in New York City increased from roughly 96,000 in 2020 to more than 272,000 in 2023. Some doctors are calling the use of e-bikes a public health crisis due to the surge in pediatric trauma cases. Stony Brook University Hospital reports an increase of as much as 900 percent in hospitalizations resulting from the use of “micro-mobility devices,” which in 2025 accounted for 30 percent of all pediatric trauma emergency cases.
Although we don’t have specific data showing how many e-bikes and scooters are being operated locally, I believe most residents would agree that we’ve seen a major increase. They are now a regular presence throughout our neighborhoods.
These aren’t simply toys. They are motorized vehicles capable of reaching speeds that can cause severe injuries. They must be operated with the same attention, caution and respect for traffic laws that we expect from everyone using our roads.
In Amityville, the e-bike speed limit is 20 mph, and it’s 15 mph for electric scooters. Scooter operators must also be at least 16 years old.
State lawmakers are considering additional protections. Legislation sponsored by State Sen. Jeremy Zellner and Assemblyman William Conrad III would require every e-bike and scooter operator to wear an approved helmet.
Safe operation is only one of the riders’ responsibilities. Lithium-ion batteries can create a serious fire hazard if damaged, modified or improperly charged. Owners should only purchase bikes, scooters and batteries tested and certified by an accredited laboratory, use the manufacturer-approved battery and charger, and never leave a battery charging unattended or overnight. Batteries should be taken out of service immediately if they overheat, swell, leak, emit an unusual odor or show signs of damage. There have been two incidents in which improperly disposed-of lithium-ion batteries have caught fire, creating a difficult situation for our Fire Department.
Our Police Department shares these concerns. It is actively conducting public outreach and ramping up enforcement of the laws governing e-bikes and scooters, but enforcement can be challenging. These vehicles are highly mobile, violations may occur quickly, and officers generally must see the unsafe behavior or identify the rider. They can’t be on every street at every moment, which is why education, parental involvement and cooperation from residents remain essential. Officers can respond to complaints, speak with riders and contact the parents of younger riders.
It is parents’ responsibility to know what type of vehicle their child is riding, whether they can legally operate it, how fast it can travel and where it may be used. And adult riders must understand that traffic laws apply to them, and that pedestrians have the right to feel safe.
The rules should be clear: Wear a helmet that fits properly, obey stop signs and traffic signals, stay off sidewalks, don’t carry passengers, remain visible and never assume that a driver sees you.
E-bikes and scooters can be useful and enjoyable forms of transportation. The goal is not to prevent their responsible use, but to ensure that they’re operated safely and respectfully. This is a community-wide responsibility, and every rider must do their part to prevent serious or life-changing accidents.
Michael O’Neill is the mayor of Amityville.
