On December 26th, the Governor vetoed S5294-A/A7431-B, a piece of legislation that would have authorized three classes of electric assist bicycles and electric scooters to operate in New York State, subject to local regulation.

His veto message said the bill overwhelmingly passed by lawmakers this year didn't include enough safety measures, such as a helmet requirement. “Failure to include these basic measures renders this legislation fatally flawed," he said. He also cited recent accidents including the November death of a 16-year-old boy in Elizabeth, N.J., who was struck by a tow truck while riding a rental scooter.

In a tweet, the Governor said "There is no need for us to choose between legalizing e-bikes and safety, and I will propose a bill that does both on January 8."

The NY Chapter ACS will be monitoring the new proposal in 2020.