Fleet Of 100 Cargo Bikes Is Coming To Manhattan

MANHATTAN, NY — A fleet of 100 cargo bicycles is set to launch in Manhattan for a new pilot program, the Department of Transportation announced Wednesday afternoon.

The pilot program will "for the first time encourage freight companies to use cargo bicycles to help reduce delivery-related congestion in New York City," the department said.

The "Commercial Cargo Bike Pilot Program" will include about 100 cargo bikes and start as the holiday shopping season begins, a source familiar with the plan confirmed to Patch ahead of the announcement. The fleet will be focused south of 60th Street, where congestion pricing tolls are set to go into effect by 2021, further aimed at slashing traffic in New York City.

"This is an exciting new program that will help cut congestion on our streets and speed up deliveries, all while reducing vehicle emissions," Mayor Bill de Blasio said in a statement.

The department will monitor the speed, parking, use of bike lanes and the size of the cargo bikes, according to information the source provided.

UPS, DHL and Amazon will participate in the pilot, but any freight company can participate. The program — which will last for about six months — could expand depending on what the department discovers, according to the source.

The pedal-assisted electric cargo bikes and will be permitted to use hundreds of loading zones that trucks usually use, according to the New York Times. The cargo bikes, however, won't have to pay meters like delivery trucks.

DOT Commissioner Polly Trottenberg told the Times that using cargo bikes in place of trucks would make New York City's streets safer, since 13 of 27 cyclist fatalities in 2019 have involved trucks.

Amazon already has 90 bikes on the roads of the 100 set to be a part of the pilot program.

The company hopes to increase that number in the coming months, according to Amazon Vice President of Specialty Fulfillment Rebecca Gansert.

Some 2 million deliveries are made a day in New York City, according to City Council Speaker Corey Johnson.

"There's no doubt the rise in deliveries has caused chaos on our streets — but there are plenty of thoughtful solutions out there to make our streets safer and more sustainable," Johnson said.

City Council Member Keith Powers, who represents much of Midtown, added: "This pilot gives the city an opportunity to explore a less disruptive alternative to mitigate the impact of thousands of deliveries a day on New Yorkers' quality of life."

Companies interested in participating should contact NYC DOT at Freightmobility@dot.nyc.gov.

This article has been updated with additional information