Uber Eats and DoorDash might be required to provide workers in New York City with certified e-bikes, reports a local ABC news affiliate.
The New York City Council is considering a piece of legislation that would require the delivery app workers to use only e-bikes that have passed certain tests. The hope is that fire safety would be improved by getting uncertified e-bikes and their lithium-ion batteries off the road.
Even though the workers are independent contractors, the retailers would be the ones paying for the certified e-bikes.
City Council member Oswald Feliz told the ABC affiliate that most workers can’t afford the more expensive batteries and instead turn to cheap alternatives.
A firefighter was recently hurt in a warehouse fire in Brooklyn where it was believed an e-bike started the blaze.
The New York City Council claims 208 lithium-ion battery fires have occurred so far this year, resulting in 14 deaths and 116 injuries.
Delivery app businesses believe the legislation is incomplete. Fraud is a concern, as workers could end up selling their e-bikes provided by the retailers.
DoorDash said it might have to stop all e-bike deliveries if the measure is passed and is urging the city to work with the businesses to come up with the best solution.