New York Launches Nation’s First Micromobility Trade-In Program

After lithium-ion batteries in micromobility devices were linked to fires that caused at least 13 deaths in New York City, the city created a first-in-the-nation trade-in program that provides e-bike and scooter owners with new equipment that meets UL safety standards. 

Dan Zukowski describes the new policy in Smart Cities Dive, noting that “The trade-in program complements Local Law 39, which as of Sept. 16 requires the electrical systems and batteries for all powered bikes and scooters sold, leased or rented in the city to be certified by an accredited testing laboratory to comply with UL safety standards.”

E-bikes are part of a growing micromobility delivery ecosystem in New York City. According to Zukowski, “More than 250 delivery workers have already applied for the trade-in program, according to a statement from the Equitable Commute Project, a micromobility advocacy organization.”

Last month, a decision by the city’s Department of Transportation to change the rules on delivery cargo bikes was met with backlash from the delivery industry, with industry leaders saying the new rules limiting vehicle length outlaws the bikes most commonly used today.