Legislation Details

File #: Int 0985-2026    Version: Name: Establishment of a trade-in program concerning powered bicycles.
Type: Introduction Status: Committee
Committee: Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
On agenda: 8/13/2026
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to the establishment of a trade-in program concerning powered bicycles
Sponsors: Shaun Abreu, Crystal Hudson, Virginia Maloney , Lynn C. Schulman
Summary: This bill would require the Department of Transportation (DOT) to create a program for individuals to trade in Class 3 e-bikes, and vehicles that resemble but do not legally qualify as Class 1 or Class 2 e-bikes, in return for a Class 1 or Class 2 e-bike or for a voucher for redemption with an e-bike retailer for purchase of a Class 1 or Class 2 e-bike. DOT would be required to partner with e-bike retailers to conduct at least 1 trade-in event per community district each calendar year and to determine the trade-in value of different types of eligible vehicles. DOT would have to meet a participation goal of at least 10,000 trade-ins, subject to user demand and e-bike retailer participation. DOT would be prohibited from limiting an individual’s eligibility for the program based on occupation or income. This bill would require DOT to do rulemaking to implement the program and to conduct a public outreach campaign to advertise the program.
Indexes: Agency Rule-making Required
Attachments: 1. Summary of Int. No. 985, 2. Summary of Int. No. 985-A, 3. Int. No. 985, 4. Memorandum in Support, 5. August 13, 2026 - Stated Meeting Agenda, 6. Proposed Int. No. 985-A - 9/22/26, 7. Committee Report 9/30/26

Proposed Int. No. 985-A

 

By Council Members Abreu, Hudson, Maloney and Schulman

 

A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to the establishment of a trade-in program concerning powered bicycles

 

Be it enacted by the Council as follows:

 

Section 1. Subchapter 3 of chapter 1 of title 19 of the administrative code of the city of New York is amended by adding a new section 19-199.2 to read as follows:

§ 19-199.2 Trade-in program concerning powered bicycles. a. Definitions. As used in this section, the following terms have the following meanings:

Eligible device. The term “eligible device” means (i) a class three bicycle with electric assist, as such term is defined in section 102-c of the vehicle and traffic law; (ii) a vehicle with 2 or 3 wheels powered by an electric motor that is intended by the manufacturer to be modifiable to attain a speed greater than 25 miles per hour on motor power alone or to attain more than 750 watts of power; or (iii) a vehicle with 2 or 3 wheels powered by an electric motor that is modified to attain a speed greater than 25 miles per hour on motor power alone or to attain more than 750 watts of power.

Powered bicycle. The term “powered bicycle” means a bicycle with electric assist, as such term is defined in section 102-c of the vehicle and traffic law.

Powered bicycle business. The term “powered bicycle business” means a business that sells, leases, or rents powered bicycles.

b. Establishment and limitations. 1. Subject to appropriation, the commissioner, in coordination with the commissioner of consumer and worker protection and the head of any other agency deemed relevant by the commissioner, shall establish a trade-in program to provide new powered bicycles that are class one bicycles with electric assist or class two bicycles with electric assist, as such terms are defined in section 102-c of the vehicle and traffic law, at reduced cost or no cost, to natural persons who trade in an eligible device and who satisfy the eligibility requirements for such program set forth in rules promulgated by the commissioner.

2. Such program shall offer a natural person the option to trade in an eligible device to either receive a powered bicycle under paragraph 1 of this subdivision or receive a voucher that may be redeemed with a powered bicycle business for purchase of a class one bicycle with electric assist or a class two bicycle with electric assist.

3. For the purpose of providing a new powered bicycle or a voucher through such program, the commissioner shall determine the value of an eligible device to be traded in based on a consideration of factors, including but not limited to the make and model of the eligible device, the condition of the eligible device, and the speed and wattage of power capability of the eligible device as verified by a dynamometer or similar device used to measure a vehicle’s speed or power.

4. Through such program, each calendar year, the commissioner shall host 1 event, at minimum, in each community district at which a natural person can trade in an eligible device. The commissioner shall host such events in partnership with powered bicycle businesses that have demonstrated compliance with section 20-610 and any other provision of law, regulation, or rule governing powered bicycles.

5. The commissioner shall set and meet a participation goal under such program of conducting at least 10,000 trade-ins of an eligible device, provided that the commissioner is not subject to fulfilling this goal if there is not sufficient demand by natural persons for trade-ins or sufficient participation by powered bicycle businesses.

6. A natural person participating in such program shall be:

(a) Limited to receiving no more than 1 powered bicycle; and

(b) Prohibited from reselling such powered bicycle for a period of 1 year after receipt of such powered bicycle.

c. Rulemaking. The commissioner shall promulgate rules for the program established under subdivision b of this section that set forth:

1. Eligibility requirements for natural persons who wish to participate, provided that such eligibility requirements do not limit eligibility based on a natural person’s occupation or income;

2. Eligibility requirements for powered bicycle businesses that wish to participate;

3. An application process for powered bicycle businesses that wish to participate;

4. Where a natural person is trading in an eligible device to receive a new powered bicycle, the amount of cost reduction provided for the new powered bicycle to be received; and

5. Where a natural person is trading in an eligible device in return for a voucher, the value of such voucher.

d. Outreach. The commissioner, in coordination with the head of any other agency deemed relevant by the commissioner, shall conduct and engage in a public outreach campaign regarding the program established under subdivision b of this section. Such campaign shall:

1. Include in-person and virtual outreach in the designated citywide languages, as such term is defined in section 23-1101, and any additional languages as determined by the commissioner; and

2. Utilize television, internet, radio, print media, digital kiosks, and subway and other public transportation advertisements.

§ 2. This local law takes effect 120 days after it becomes law, except that the commissioner of transportation shall take such measures as are necessary for the implementation of this local law, including the promulgation of rules, before such date.

 

NAW

LS #25200/25614

9/22/2026 2:25 PM