NEW YORK (WPIX) – Amazon has responded to New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani‘s cease-and-desist letters that went out to 40 major retailers over the sale of “prohibited motorized scooters and e-bikes.”
Online retailers, including Wayfair, Walmart, Temu, Target and Amazon, were sent cease-and-desist letters demanding that the stores “immediately end the sale of” prohibited scooters and e-bikes to New York City residents and businesses, according to Mamdani.
If not, the stores could face $2,000 fines as of Aug. 18, Mamdani said Wednesday.
Why did Mamdani send cease-and-desist letters?
The prohibited nature of these scooters and e-bikes stems from the fact that some of the retailers’ products exceed the legal speed limits and wattage limits. Some mopeds don’t have proper VINs as well.
The speed limit for e-bikes in New York City is 15 mph. The maximum speed allowance must be under 20 to 25 mph, depending on the bike. Scooters can’t weigh more than 100 pounds or go more than 20 mph.
“Let’s be clear, these are motorcycles being marketed to New Yorkers as bicycles,” said Department of Transportation Commissioner Mike Flynn.
The actions come a week after 17-year-old Gabriel Nacato was fatally struck by an SUV while riding an e-bike in Lower Manhattan. He was on his way from Bensonhurst to fill out summer job applications with a career counselor, Mamdani said.
“The vehicle he was riding is capable of reaching more than 30 miles per hour, a speed that should never be reached in our bike lanes,” Mamdani said.
Amazon responds to Mamdani’s cease-and-desist
A spokesperson for Amazon told Nexstar’s WPIX that the trillion-dollar corporation will be “looking into the products in question” and has no issue working with the mayor and City Council to get it right.
“Safety is a top priority and we require e-bikes sold in our store to meet applicable safety standards and Amazon policies,” the spokesperson said.
Target has yet to respond to WPIX’s request for comment on the matter.
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