At one point, it looked as though e-scooters were going to zip right through Albany onto city streets. But state lawmakers abruptly slammed on the brakes earlier this month. 

"We were very disappointed," Brooklyn Councilman Rafael Espinal said. "The reason we haven't really talked about this on the local level is we hoped it would pass in the budget. We learned really at the last minute that that wasn't going to be the case. We are just waiting to see what happens from now until June. And hoping we have a champion up in Albany to get this done."

Espinal has been championing both e-scooters and electric bikes here in the city pushing for their legalization, trying to catch up to other major cities across the country, like Los Angeles. 

For months, city officials have claimed before they hit the streets here, Albany must legalize the scooters and e-bikes first. 

It was something that was proposed in Governor Andrew Cuomo's budget. It didn't make the final cut. 

It wasn't for lack of trying. According to state records, e-scooter and bike companies have been pouring thousands of dollars into lobbying state lawmakers in just the first few months of the year hoping to drive forward their cause.

Chris Coffey was a consultant for one of the top scooter companies. 

"I think what you saw was resistance from primarily senate Democrats in Manhattan, Liz Krueger and others, who historically have had issues around e-scooters and electric bikes in their districts," Coffey said.

Like on the Upper East Side. The community board chair says streets and sidewalks are crowded enough.  

"The board does not think scooters are the answer. Not in a city like New York, not with the density," said Alida Camp, chair of Community Board 8. "I am just looking around. Bicycles are going south on Lexington, east on 84th Street, a woman with a walker walked by. It just makes no sense to add something else to the mix."

In a statement, Sen. Liz Kruger told us she was just one of many people who has a problem with these devices.

Still, supporters will tell you they will start slow. Perhaps with a pilot in Brooklyn or Queens first. 

In fact, NY1 has learned state Senator Jessica Ramos is going to try again next week. She is expected to introduce new legislation in Albany that would officially legalize both e-scooters and e-bikes.

In a statement, she told us, "I am introducing legislation with Assembly member Nily Rozic to legalize e-bikes and e-scooters. For many of my neighbors, who are immigrant delivery workers, using alternative modes of transportation is a matter of livelihood."