City lifting ban on e-bikes in parks starting June 20 for yearlong pilot

The city is lifting its ban on e-bikes and scooters in parks and greenways as part of a yearlong pilot starting June 20, the Parks Department announced on Wednesday.

The policy change, announced by the Adams administration in March, will permit the operators of most e-bikes and e-scooters to ride on park drives, such as the loops in Central and Prospect parks, as well as the city’s greenways, such as those along the Hudson River, East River, Harlem River, and Jamaica Bay.

The pilot will last until May 31, 2024. The rule change applies to pedal-assist and throttle e-bikes that can travel up to 25 miles per hour, as well as stand-up e-scooters with top speeds of 15 mph, but not faster and heavier mopeds or motorcycles.