[theFletch]

I didn't see any mention of this in the article, but I wonder what percentage is commuting vs. delivery. I was in NYC before and after the pandemic and, just from a casual outside perspective, it seemed that the number of delivery cyclist has risen significantly while commuters has dropped or just stayed the same.

[Zigurd]

NYC has enough delivery riders that storage and fire risk from overnight charging is significant. I'm sure the same risks apply everywhere but sheer numbers in NYC make it a headline issue. I rode blue bikes while visiting, and I had different observations riding and walking: While walking it seemed like delivery riders where everywhere. While riding, I noticed a lot more leisure and commuting riders, probably because I was riding where they ride, not to some random delivery location.

[theFletch]

That's a great point about just being where certain types of riders are. This probably speaks volumes about the infrastructure for cycling, or lack of in NYC. I'm a cyclist and advocate for more bikes, but there is something about putting motorized transportation (e-bikes, scooters, etc.) even closer to pedestrians that seems wrong to me. Getting hit by a car is no fun, but getting hit by an e-bike going 20+ mph can't be fun either. The number of people to potentially suffer an injury also doubles.

[Zigurd]

I never felt unsafe walking or riding where delivery riders were delivering. The safety problems I encountered were all due to cars.

Delivery riders have a tough life. They buy their own gear and pay to keep it in the city. Things like UL-listed batteries are important. But so is expansion of bike infrastructure for all kinds of cyclists.

I don't own one, but I know e-bikes popularize cycling. In some places they are the only practical daily use bike. More would be better.