NYC warns e-bike, e-scooter online retailers: Stop selling illegal vehicles here

New York City has issued legal warnings to 42 online retailers, demanding they cease and desist the sale of illegally powerful e-bikes and e-scooters for delivery within the five boroughs. The list of merchants includes massive online outlets like Amazon, Temu and Marketplace, Mayor Mamdani said at a City Hall press conference Wednesday. The city is also requesting that reps from those online sellers meet with officials from both the city’s Department of Transportation and NYPD, as well as the city’s Law Department, to “develop cooperative measures aimed at eliminating the illegal distribution of these vehicles into our city,” Mamdani said. “These are some of the largest retailers in the country, and we are going to hold them accountable,” the mayor said. Mayor Zohran Mamdani. (Barry Williams / New York Daily News) New York City law restricts the sale of any motorized stand-up weighing more than 100 pounds or capable of traveling faster than 20 mph. The law also bans the sale of e-bikes that can travel faster than 25 mph, or have motors that produce more than 750 watts of power. The cease-and-desist letters come a week after a 17-year-old Brooklyn boy died while riding an illegally fast e-bike near City Hall. Gabriel Nacato was killed last Tuesday when the e-bike he was riding collided with a Chevrolet Tahoe SUV. Police said the Deepower bike the teen was riding had a motor that could rev at more than 900 watts and was capable of hitting 30 mph. “I know there is nothing that will ease the pain of his loss,” Mamdani said. “However, we can still do right by the rest of New York City, and we can still ensure that Gabriel’s legacy is one of saving the lives of others as we keep these vehicles off our streets in his name.” It’s not clear how fast the youth was traveling at the time of the crash. NYPD officers and detectives investigate a fatal e-bike collision on Centre St. near Chambers St. in Lower Manhattan on Wednesday, July 29, 2026 in New York City. (Barry Williams/ New York Daily News) The mayor’s announcement comes a day after Council Speaker Julie Menin touted a slew of legislative measures focused on various aspects of micromobility devices, including safety. Mamdani said Wednesday he plans to “work closely” with the Council, as well as lawmakers in Albany and State Attorney General Letitia James for legislation. “I understand that it can be hard for New Yorkers to know if a vehicle is illegal if they are able to buy it online,” James said Wednesday, “and that is why I am proud that the mayor of the City of New York is sending cease and desist letters to stop these illegal sales.”