What Long Islanders told us about micromobility safety
Electric scooters, electric bikes, and other micromobility devices are changing the way people travel across Long Island. These devices are environmentally friendly and can be convenient for those commuting to work or school. As these devices become more popular, the concern also rises about the safety of riders who use these devices, and the safety of the other road users around them.
Police departments, hospitals and other traffic safety advocates have reported an increase in crashes involving e-bikes and e-scooters. Many of these accidents have involved children and teenagers. According to New York State law, riders must be at least 16 years old to operate an e-bike, yet many underage riders have been involved in crashes involving micromobility devices.
Micromobility Crashes are Making Headlines
Recent headlines highlight why this issue has become a growing concern for the Long Island community.
In response to the rising number of crashes, organizations like the New York Coalition for Transportation Safety have tried to deliver more education to members of the community about the laws surrounding these devices, the safety risks they pose, and how to operate them safely.
Surveying Long Islanders About Micromobility
To get a better sense of Long Islanders’ behaviors and perceptions related to micromobility, Walk Safe Long Island conducted a community survey. The goal of this survey was to learn more about residents’ experiences with these devices as well as their concerns and opinions involving micromobility devices in their neighborhoods. The survey used convenience sampling and garnered 149 responses. Surveys were collected at the following sites in Nassau County: Target in Westbury; Roosevelt Field Mall in Garden City; 7th Avenue in Garden City; Covert Avenue in Stewart Manor; and the boardwalk in Long Beach. The full survey methodology is available here.
Micromobility Use and Perceptions
Although micromobility devices have become increasingly more popular across Long Island, the survey found that most of the respondents don’t use one— 67.1 percent reported that they do not own or use an e-bike or e-scooter.
Among the respondents who responded that they do use or own a micromobility device, helmet use was not always practiced— 74 percent responded that they always wear a helmet while riding. However, 20.8 percent said they do not wear one and 4.2 percent responded that they only wear a helmet sometimes. These findings show that there is opportunity for education on helmet safety and how it can help to reduce injury.
When asked, “Which of the following do you think is most important for improving micromobility safety on LI,” education/public awareness rose to the top, followed by engineering/road design, legislation, then enforcement of laws.
Recommendations for Improvement
When asked, “Do you have any recommendations for how we can improve micromobility safety on our shared roads for all users,” responses focused mainly on improving micromobility safety through helmet use, better infrastructure like protected bike lanes, and clearer regulations for e-bikes and scooters. Some suggested stricter enforcement of existing laws and more user education. A few recommended licensing, speed limits, or restricting certain devices. There were also calls for banning or limiting e-bikes. Overall, most respondents emphasized practical safety measures and clearer rules to protect all road users on Long Island’s shared roads.
About the Respondents
Role: Community members made up the largest group of survey respondents. Other participants include students, traffic safety professionals, engineers, law enforcement personnel, elected officials and other professionals.
Age: Respondents represented every age group, from under 18 to 65 years old and older. The largest age group of participants was 25-34 years old.
Gender: A slight majority of respondents identified as men (51.15 percent), followed by women (45.8 percent). Less than one percent identified as non-binary/non-conforming, and 2.29 percent preferred not to respond.
Overall, the survey provides some insight into how some Long Islanders of many ages view and use micromobility.
As micromobility use continues to grow across Long Island, it is important to educate users about the laws and safe riding habits. Engineering and enforcement play equally important roles. Walk Safe Long Island remains committed to advancing law-based traffic safety education to prevent crashes, reduce injuries and create safer roads for all Long Islanders.
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