During a safety blitz in Manhattan, 247 illegal motorized bicycles were seized by the police as part of Vision Zero, an initiative by Mayor Bill de Blasio aimed at eliminating traffic deaths in New York City. The operation, which saw an average of over 10 bikes confiscated per hour, was primarily concentrated in southern Manhattan and also included seizures by the Midtown North Precinct. The crackdown has been met with criticism, particularly from bicycle messengers and advocates who argue that the enforcement targets vulnerable workers and capitalizes on ambiguous laws. They emphasize the essential role these motorized bicycles play for many, including immigrants and those with physical limitations, in earning a livelihood. Despite the federal government deeming bicycles with a maximum motor-powered speed of under 20 miles per hour as legal, New York state law bans them, leading to a call for reconsideration and adaptation of these regulations to support the city’s delivery cyclists.
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