Requires local community review and approval prior to the implementation of electric scooter programs and installation of electric scooter infrastructure in cities with a population of one million or more.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
8196
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
May 5, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. BERGER -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Transportation
AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to requiring
local community review and approval prior to the implementation of
electric scooter programs and installation of electric scooter infras-
tructure in cities with a population of one million or more
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The vehicle and traffic law is amended by adding a new
2 section 1290 to read as follows:
3 § 1290. Local community review and approval prior to the implementa-
4 tion of electric scooter programs and installation of electric scooter
5 infrastructure in cities with a population of one million or more. 1.
6 For purposes of this section, the following terms shall have the follow-
7 ing meanings:
8 (a) "Electric scooter infrastructure" shall mean, but not be limited
9 to, any physical equipment used for the parking, charging, docking,
10 information dissemination, or operational support of shared electric
11 scooters. Parking shall include the use of a painted corral on a public
12 street or sidewalk.
13 (b) "Electric scooter" shall have the same meaning as such term is
14 defined pursuant to section one hundred fourteen-e of this chapter.
15 (c) "Electric scooter program" shall mean any service operated by a
16 city agency, including but not limited to the department of transporta-
17 tion, or a private organization or entity authorized through contract
18 with a city agency, offering shared electric scooters for short-term
19 public rental.
20 2. In any city having a population of one million or more, no electric
21 scooter program shall be implemented, and no permanent or semi-permanent
22 electric scooter infrastructure shall be installed on any street, side-
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD11811-02-5
A. 8196 2
1 walk, or other public space unless the following conditions have been
2 met:
3 (a) the proposed program or site plan has been submitted to the commu-
4 nity board, or similar community-based advisory body with jurisdiction
5 over the proposed implementation area, for review; and
6 (b) a public hearing has been held by such community board or body,
7 and a formal written recommendation has been issued concerning the
8 proposed program or installation.
9 3. The relevant city agency, including but not limited to the depart-
10 ment of transportation, shall give substantial consideration to the
11 recommendation issued pursuant to subdivision two of this section prior
12 to approving or issuing any permit for such program or installation. No
13 electric scooter program or associated electric scooter infrastructure
14 shall be implemented or installed in a district where the community
15 board has issued a disapproval recommendation.
16 4. The requirements of subdivision two of this section shall not apply
17 to emergency installations of electric scooter infrastructure necessary
18 to address immediate public safety or transportation needs, provided
19 timely notice is given to the applicable community board and any such
20 infrastructure is removed within ninety days unless approved pursuant to
21 subdivision two of this section.
22 5. Any permanent or semi-permanent electric scooter infrastructure
23 that was installed within five years prior to the effective date of this
24 section shall be subject to the review and recommendation process
25 described in subdivision two of this section. The relevant city agency
26 shall submit such existing infrastructure for community board review
27 within ninety days of the effective date of this section. Infrastructure
28 not receiving community board approval within ninety days of review
29 shall be subject to removal.
30 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
