New York City mayor Eric Adams announced last week in his annual State of the City address that the city would be creating a watchdog agency to regulate the booming delivery industry. The Department of Sustainable Delivery would be the first of its kind of the nation and would be designated to protect both delivery drivers and consumers.
Although Adams did not give many details on how the agency would work, essentially it would address the issues raised by the surge of delivery drivers on bikes and mopeds across the city in part by overseeing inspections and registration for e-bike drivers.
One of the issues the agency would address is the danger of lithium-ion batteries, which are often used to power electric bikes and scooters and can cause explosions and fires if not used properly. According to CBS News, 18 people died in New York City in 2023 as a result of lithium-ion battery explosions.
