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Mayors

New York City Establishes Department of Sustainable Delivery to Regulate App-Based Deliveries

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

New York City is grappling with the consequences of soaring app-based deliveries, which have surged without adequate accountability for app companies. To address this issue, Mayor Eric Adams and Department of Transportation (DOT) Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez announced the creation of the Department of Sustainable Delivery (DSD), a new entity tasked with enforcing commercial cycling laws, holding delivery apps accountable, and addressing vehicle parking behaviors that endanger pedestrians, cyclists, and e-bike riders.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Department of Sustainable Delivery (DSD) will enforce commercial cycling laws, hold delivery apps accountable, and address vehicle parking behaviors that endanger pedestrians, cyclists, and e-bike riders.
  • The DSD will have 45 new peace officers trained to issue moving violations and enforce commercial cycling laws against businesses, supported by new funding from the Fiscal Year 2026 Adopted Budget.
  • The department will focus on enforcement against illegal moped, e-bike, and e-scooter riding, as well as hold delivery apps accountable for providing safe and legal equipment to commercial cyclists.
  • Mayor Adams has renewed his calls for City Council to pass legislation strengthening delivery worker safety and bolstering the work of the DSD.
  • Commissioner Rodriguez stated that the DSD will help crack down on a range of illegal behavior and hold delivery apps accountable, while also emphasizing the need for comprehensive legislation to support the department's work.

Statistics:

  • 45 new peace officers will be hired to support the DSD, trained to issue moving violations and enforce commercial cycling laws against businesses.
  • The DSD will focus on enforcement against illegal moped, e-bike, and e-scooter riding, which has surged without adequate accountability for app companies.
  • The city has installed wider bike lanes along its busiest routes, expanded public e-bike charging options, and educated the public and delivery workers on safe and legal e-bike use.
  • Since the city launched the e-bike trade-in program, delivery workers have exchanged over an unknown number of illegal mopeds and uncertified e-bikes for legal, fire-safe e-bikes and batteries.

Sources:

  • [City of New York. (2024). Mayor Adams and DOT Commissioner Rodriguez Announce Creation of Department of Sustainable Delivery. Retrieved from [www1.nyc.gov](http://www1.nyc.gov)].
  • [City of New York. (2024). Mayor Adams Urges City Council to Pass Legislation to Support Department of Sustainable Delivery. Retrieved from [www1.nyc.gov](http://www1.nyc.gov)].

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