Source: Zag Daily

A new industry coalition has formed with the goal of shaping e-bike policy alongside the needs of the micromobility industry in New York City. It has published its very own Micromobility Roadmap with policy recommendations for the city’s new administration.

The Next Mile Coalition is co-chaired by The E-Mobility Project, Upway and Infinite Machine, and brings together companies and advocacy organisations seeking closer alignment between city policy and micromobility sector requirements. Members include Bloom, DutchX, Oonee, PeopleForBikes, Popwheels, Propel Bikes, Ridepanda and Whizz.

The coalition’s launch coincided with the publication of its Micromobility Roadmap, a policy document outlining 20 recommendations for the city’s new administration.

Infrastructure Identified as key barrier

The Roadmap describes New York City as being at a “pivotal moment in transportation history,” citing approximately 44 million annual Citi Bike trips and an estimated 65,000 delivery workers using e-bikes.

Shabazz Stuart, founder of Oonee, said the city’s greatest obstacle to wider micromobility adoption is an infrastructure deficit, including the lack of a connected bike lane network, secure parking, charging and servicing options. Compared with cities such as Paris and London, Stuart said micromobility use in New York City remains “a relatively painful experience.”

He told Zag Daily the following about the coalition’s objective.

“By consolidating innovation sector expertise into one coherent policy voice, the coalition is better able to provide feedback like this to the relevant stakeholders in city government.”

Managing growth and safety

Mike Peregudov, co-founder of e-bike subscription service Whizz, said the city’s primary challenge is not increasing ridership but managing existing volumes safely while avoiding over-regulation.

He noted that balancing rider safety, public space and accessibility requires a nuanced approach rather than blanket restrictions.

Melinda Hanson, Co-founder of The E-Mobility Project and Co-chair of the Next Mile Coalition shared the main priority of the industry coalition:

“The organisations in this coalition share one key priority: for New York City to move faster on mobility infrastructure, safety and affordability,”

She also notes that the Micromobility Roadmap is a “practical blueprint with concrete actions” which can be used by the new administration for immediate implementation.

Micromobility Roadmap targets and policy proposals

The Roadmap sets a series of targets for 2030, including a 25% increase in cyclists, the construction of 350 miles of protected bike lanes, 4,000 daylighted intersections and the near-elimination of lithium-ion battery fires.

Key recommendations include building 50 miles of new protected bike lanes in 2026, increasing to 100 miles annually, deploying 500 secure bike parking locations, accelerating safe charging infrastructure and introducing income-tiered rebates for certified e-bikes and cargo bikes.

Broader industry implications

Brandon Schuh of Christensen Group said the coalition could serve as a starting point for broader national or global micromobility regulatory frameworks.

As New York City continues to respond to safety challenges following the post-pandemic e-bike boom, the global micromobility industry will be watching closely to see whether the Next Mile Coalition can help accelerate progress by aligning industry expertise and public policy.