Officials announced a new campaign that aims to help New Yorkers learn how to safely ride electric bikes.  

This comes after there were more bike deaths last year in the city in the last two decades.

What You Need To Know

  • The city Department of Transportation and the NYPD created the campaign of video and various marketing materials to educate people on e-bike safety

  • The campaign “Get Smart Before You Start” provides tips for riders, including for e-bike riders to watch for turning cars and to break sooner than you would on a traditional bike

  • It comes as the city reports bike deaths are at a 23-year high. Last year, 30 people died from bike deaths — 23 of those deaths were on e-bikes

E-bikes can reach speeds exceeding 20 miles per hours. The city said joy rides and commute can quickly turn deadly.

“It is the first time in Vision Zero history that we focus only on electric bikes,” the city Department of Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodríguez said.

The DOT wants e-bike riders to drive safer.

The new ad campaign, “Get Smart Before You Start,” from the DOT and the NYPD educates people on best practices riding e-bikes.

“Familiarize yourself with the features of the bike. Take a bike safety course, or take a test run in an open area to practice turns and braking,” NYPD Chief of Transportation Philip Rivera said.

The campaign informs riders on tips for accelerating, braking and operating e-bikes.

Some pointers include stay off the sidewalks, ride in designated bike lanes and brake sooner than you would when riding a traditional bicycle.

“One of the things we know, of course, is not just that e-bikes are difficult to control as they accelerate, but they brake very differently,” Department of Transportation Assistant Commissioner for Education and Outreach Kim Wiley-Schwartz said.

According to city data, last year, 30 people died from bike deaths — 23 of those deaths were on e-bikes.

“This campaign aims to reduce injuries and fatalities on our roads and when it comes to e-bikes, those numbers have been far too high,” Rodríguez said.

The campaign also encourages people to watch for turning vehicles.  

People who spoke with NY1 welcome the education effort, saying it can only help educate others.