The NYPD abandoned a scheduled e-bike cleanup in the East Village on Wednesday morning after journalists and community members arrived to document the operation.
It was designed to be the latest chapter in a years-long neighborhood battle over a growing cluster of e-bikes parked at East 11th Street and First Avenue. While some residents and business owners say the bikes are an eyesore that block pedestrian and vehicular access, others charged that the stationing area serves as a necessary staging ground for immigrant delivery workers merely trying to make a living.
“It’s never bothered me. I guess if I lived right here, it might be a little annoying. But yeah, it’s interesting. A lot of what they’re talking about is access to the cars for parking, and to me, if you could park your personal car, why can’t you park your personal bike?” said William Kelly, who lives about a block away.
According to residents, police announced at a recent community board meeting that they planned to remove some bikes after numerous complaints. The prospect of enforcement was welcomed by some, though it raised concerns among others.
Delivery workers have been parking their e-bikes at the location since February 2024, and have continued to do so even after a previous police seizure operation during the Adams administration. Workers faced difficulties reclaiming them since many could not provide proof of ownership for their used bikes, which they had purchased with cash.
“The first time they did the seizure here, the guys had a lot of problems getting their bikes because when they went to the [9th] Precinct, they asked them to prove the bikes belong to them. Most of them buy their bikes by cash because the bike’s already used,” said Jamy Bah.
NYPD concerns over e-bike batteries and community safety
An NYPD spokesperson said the planned cleanup stemmed directly from complaints by residents and local businesses and cited safety concerns regarding the concentration of lithium-ion batteries at the site.
The department has also been exploring ways to make it easier for workers to reclaim their bikes, the spokesperson said.
According to the NYPD, enforcement had initially been scheduled for Oct. 21, after police gave advocates time to coordinate with delivery workers to relocate the bikes. The department then allowed an additional week before arranging the operation on Oct. 28.
But when officers arrived at around 9 a.m., they inspected the area and looked over some bikes before leaving without removing any.
During the operation, one officer could be heard speaking on a cellphone and saying, “There are two people with press passes here.” The officer apparently observed an amNewYork reporter and a journalist from another outlet nearby.
The abrupt departure frustrated some community advocates who have called for a resolution to the long-running dispute for the immigrant workforce.
“All of a sudden, we’re taking bikes, and then we’re not taking bikes. We have an administration that says one thing about immigrants and dignity of workers, and then we have a police department that is left over from the last administration and seems to be totally different,” said Susan Stetzer, district manager for Community Board 3.
Others, however, say enforcement cannot come soon enough.
“We’re grateful to hear that the NYPD is taking our neighborhood’s concerns seriously. However, our community needs consistent enforcement and sustained attention from the City,” said Christine Renzi, leader of the East Village Beautification Project. “This situation at East 11th Street and First Avenue has gone on far too long: small businesses have closed, residents’ quality of life has deteriorated, and property values have declined. This is not about demonizing delivery workers, but about finding an equitable solution for everyone who lives and works in our neighborhood. Our coalition of residents, business owners, and property owners is calling for lasting action that enforces the law and ensures a safe, welcoming neighborhood for all.”
