New York to establish sustainable delivery department

New York City has announced plans to create a new municipal department in response to the rise of e-bikes, mopeds and cargo bikes used for deliveries.

The creation of the Department of Sustainable Delivery, which would be tasked with regulating commercial delivery services that rely on two and three-wheeled micromobility vehicles, was announced last week by the city’s mayor, Eric Adams.

“Public safety is also about safer streets for pedestrians, cyclists, drivers and delivery workers,” said Mayor Adams.

“New Yorkers welcome the future of transit and new electronic technologies – but we cannot have mopeds speeding down our sidewalks and forcing people to jump out of the way.

“We must also protect the drivers and delivery workers who show up for New Yorkers at all times of day and in all kinds of weather.”

The mayor added that the department will be a “first-in-the-nation way to ensure that the next generation of mobility innovation works for our workers, our neighbours and our city.”

While exact details on the new department have yet to be revealed, it is expected that its main focus will centre on safety, data sharing, and fees and permits to operate.

Order to the streets

According to the city, cargo bikes made more than 130,000 trips across New York in 2022 – delivering over five million packages for carriers such as Amazon, DHL and UPS.

There are approximately 65,000 workers delivering for Uber Eats, DoorDash, Postmates and numerous other apps.

Officials have taken some action to control the emerging sector, with increased bike lanes, new rules around bathroom access and an ongoing campaign to combat the risk of lithium-ion fires in e-bikes and e-scooters.

Writing on X (formerly Twitter), Meera Joshi, the city’s Deputy Mayor for Operations, said: “We all expect instant delivery of everything from food to furniture.

“We want [business] to flourish and New Yorkers [to] access modern conveniences, but it’s time to bring order to our streets, for workers and residents.”

Cargo bikes

Last August, the city announced plans to allow the use of larger pedal-assisted cargo bikes, saying it would make last-mile deliveries safer and more sustainable.

The proposal would allow cargo bikes to be up to 48 inches (122cm) wide with up to four wheels, which would make them easier to pedal while carrying heavy loads.

Based on the shift towards sustainability in the freight delivery industry, NYC DOT has determined that there is even more unmet demand that could be addressed through this proposed rule change.

Speaking in August 2023, NYC DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez said: “Greater use of cargo bikes will bring incredible environmental and safety benefits for New York City by reducing the number of large, high-polluting trucks on our streets.

“Just two cargo bikes can replace one box truck, increasing safety and reducing CO2 emissions by 14 tons per year – equivalent to 30,872 passenger car miles travelled.”

Image: brett-jordan-unsplash