Alternative Transportation
The Alternatives to Cars and Your Safety
Motorcycles, e-bikes, and e-scooters — what every NYC rider should know about staying safe.
June 22, 2026
All throughout New York, individuals are looking to various alternatives that can be used for traveling. While there are many great options, it's crucial for you to recognize how you can stay safe whenever you're using any of these alternative options.
Each of the most popular alternatives — motorcycles, electric bicycles, and electric scooters — comes with its own set of risks, rules, and habits that keep riders safe. Here's what you need to know about each one before you head out.
By the Numbers
Cars are still the default — but the alternatives are growing fast
24×
Motorcyclists are roughly 24× more likely to die per mile traveled than passenger-vehicle occupants
2020
Year New York State legalized e-bikes and e-scooters for personal use on public roads
25 mph
Top speed allowed for the most powerful Class 3 e-bikes in New York
15 mph
Maximum legal speed for e-scooters operated on NYC streets
Whether you ride a motorcycle, an e-bike, or an e-scooter, you're exposed to risks a car driver simply isn't. Knowing the rules — and the hazards — is the first line of defense.
Alternative #1
Motorcycles
Of course, motorcycles are and have always been a popular option. They're also potentially dangerous because they're much smaller than other passenger vehicles, and they're easy to miss in blind spots and around the vehicle. As a motorcyclist, it's vital for you to ensure you are staying as visible as possible on the road.
The risk
Why motorcycle crashes are different
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Easy to miss in blind spots
A motorcycle is a fraction of the visual footprint of a car. Drivers checking their mirrors often look past riders sitting in the next lane.
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No surrounding protection
There's no frame, no crumple zone, no seatbelt, and no airbag between a motorcyclist and the pavement. Even a low-speed crash can produce serious injuries.
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Less visible at night
A single headlight and a slim profile are easy to lose against city lighting — especially when drivers are distracted or scanning for cars, not bikes.
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Hazards that cars ignore
Wet leaves, painted lines, gravel, potholes, and metal plates that a car barely notices can throw a rider off balance in an instant.
The habit
Riding habits that keep you safe
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Stay out of blind spots
Position yourself where drivers can actually see you. If you can't see a driver's face in their mirror, assume they can't see you.
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Make yourself visible
Wear bright or reflective gear — especially at night — and keep your headlight on at all times.
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Follow the laws of the road
Lane-splitting is illegal in New York. Obey speed limits, signal early, and never assume a driver has seen you simply because you have the right of way.
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Always wear a helmet
New York requires DOT-approved helmets for every rider and passenger. A properly fitted helmet is the single most effective piece of safety equipment available.
Alternative #2
Electric bicycles
Electric bicycles are growing in popularity, especially with the recent bills passed that legalized electric bikes for personal and private use. More and more companies are requesting permits for operating the electric bikes, and while they're relatively safe, more of them on the road means more traffic.
While drivers on the road adapt, it can create potential problems and an increase in crashes. Knowing the class of your bike — and the rules that apply to it — is the foundation of safe riding.
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New York recognizes three e-bike classes. Class 1 and 2 are capped at 20 mph; Class 3 can reach 25 mph and is the most heavily regulated.
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E-bike riders must obey the same traffic laws as cyclists — including stopping at red lights, yielding to pedestrians, and staying off the sidewalk.
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More e-bikes on the street means more bike-lane traffic, more delivery riders, and more crashes as drivers adapt to the new mix.
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Helmets are required for any rider under 18 and for every rider on a Class 3 e-bike, regardless of age.
Alternative #3
Electric scooters
Much like electric bicycles, electric scooters are growing in popularity. People are unsure of how they are regulated, whether to ride them on the streets or sidewalks, and other issues. It's vital for all riders to make sure they're staying visible and following rules to keep themselves and pedestrians safe from harm.
Streets, not sidewalks
E-scooters are not allowed on sidewalks anywhere in NYC. Use the bike lane when one is available; otherwise ride with traffic on the right side of the road.
15 mph maximum
City rules cap e-scooters at 15 mph on public streets. Slow down further in crowded areas and around pedestrians.
Yield to people on foot
Pedestrians always have the right of way at crosswalks, intersections, and shared paths — even when riders feel they could squeeze through.
Lights after dark
A white front light and red rear reflector or light are required after sunset. Riders are easy to miss without them.
If you ride, protect yourself
Pedestrians and riders share the same streets.
Whether you're on two wheels or two feet, the rules exist to keep everyone safe. Riders who stay visible, predictable, and within the law dramatically lower the risk of an injury crash for themselves and for the people around them.
Stay Safe
Safety habits that work on every alternative
The vehicles change. The fundamentals don't. A few simple habits dramatically reduce your risk of a serious crash — no matter what you ride.
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Wear a helmet — even when it isn't required
Most head and brain injuries among motorcycle, e-bike, and e-scooter riders are preventable with a properly fitted helmet. Wear one on every ride.
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Make yourself impossible to miss
Bright clothing, reflective accents, and front and rear lights drastically reduce the risk of being missed by a distracted driver — especially at night.
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Know your vehicle's rules
Motorcycles, e-bikes, and e-scooters each have different speed limits, equipment requirements, and right-of-way rules. Riding what you know keeps you and everyone else safer.
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Ride sober and alert
Alcohol, drugs, and fatigue erode the balance and reaction time these vehicles demand. If you wouldn't drive a car in your current state, don't ride either.
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Never assume drivers see you
Make eye contact at intersections, signal early, and leave yourself an escape route. Defensive riding is the single most effective habit you can build.
Injured as a rider?
Learn your rights from a team you can trust.
If you've been injured as a rider on an electric bike, an electric scooter, or a motorcycle, learn your rights by speaking with our New York personal injury lawyers at Koenigsberg & Associates Law Offices. We're committed to helping you pursue the compensation you need and deserve.
Call us at (718) 336-2000 to discuss your rights.