NEW YORK (WPIX) – Amazon has responded to New York Metropolis Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s cease-and-desist letters that went out to 40 main retailers over the sale of “prohibited motorized scooters and e-bikes.”
On-line retailers, together with Wayfair, Walmart, Temu, Goal and Amazon, have been despatched cease-and-desist letters demanding that the shops “instantly finish the sale of” prohibited scooters and e-bikes to New York Metropolis residents and companies, in response to Mamdani.
If not, the shops may face $2,000 fines as of Aug. 18, Mamdani mentioned Wednesday.
Why did Mamdani ship cease-and-desist letters?
The prohibited nature of those scooters and e-bikes stems from the truth that among the retailers’ merchandise exceed the authorized velocity limits and wattage limits. Some mopeds do not have correct VINs as properly.
The velocity restrict for e-bikes in New York Metropolis is 15 mph. The utmost velocity allowance should be beneath 20 to 25 mph, relying on the bike. Scooters cannot weigh greater than 100 kilos or go greater than 20 mph.
“Let’s be clear, these are bikes being marketed to New Yorkers as bicycles,” mentioned Division of Transportation Commissioner Mike Flynn.
The actions come every week after 17-year-old Gabriel Nacato was fatally struck by an SUV whereas using an e-bike in Decrease Manhattan. He was on his method from Bensonhurst to fill out summer season job purposes with a profession counselor, Mamdani mentioned.
“The car he was using is able to reaching greater than 30 miles per hour, a velocity that ought to by no means be reached in our bike lanes,” Mamdani mentioned.
Amazon responds to Mamdani’s cease-and-desist
A spokesperson for Amazon informed Nexstar’s WPIX that the trillion-dollar company shall be “wanting into the merchandise in query” and has no difficulty working with the mayor and Metropolis Council to get it proper.
“Security is a prime precedence and we require e-bikes bought in our retailer to fulfill relevant security requirements and Amazon insurance policies,” the spokesperson mentioned.
Goal has but to answer WPIX’s request for touch upon the matter.
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