The department is designed to help the city regulate small delivery vehicles, manage curb space and congestion, and prepare for new technology like delivery drones.
A brand new municipal department will regulate New York City’s delivery bikes, e-bikes, scooters, and other small devices.
John Surico, writing in Bloomberg CityLab, notes that the popular delivery vehicles have spurred debate even as they help reduce carbon emissions in the city. “Debates rage around pedestrian and rider safety, the risks posed by e-bike battery fires and the rights of delivery workers.”
The department will coordinate regulations and enforcement and collect data to understand future needs. “In an interview with Bloomberg CityLab, Meera Joshi, the city’s deputy mayor for operations, said the newly created entity will be a way for the city to amplify the industry’s positives while mitigating the negative effects — and ensuring that New Yorkers don’t lose their all-important access to 24/7 takeout.”
The city will convene a task force to draft the office’s mission statement with input from industry professionals and labor groups.
FULL STORY: New York City Set to Launch ‘Department of Sustainable Delivery’
NYC E-Scooter Program Threatened Despite High Ridership
Rental scooters in Queens and the Bronx provided close to two million trips in 2024, with many trips starting or ending near transit. Some city officials want to remove them.
NYC Launches ‘Smart Curbs’ Program
The pilot program on the Upper West Side will remove some curbside parking spots to replace them with public seating, bike racks, and delivery zones.
NYC Losing Many Outdoor Dining Areas Due to Expensive New Regulations
Restaurant owners say the city’s new outdoor dining program makes it too difficult and expensive to operate al fresco setups.
Legendary Parking Guru Donald Shoup Dies at 86
Urbanists are mourning the loss of a dynamic voice for parking reform and walkable cities.
DOT Memo Directs Transportation Funding to Communities With Higher Marriage and Birth Rates, Compliance with Immigration Officials and No Mask Mandates
The memo ties immigration enforcement to federal funding and prohibits mask or vaccine mandates.
Analysis: Cybertruck Fatality Rate Far Exceeds That of Ford Pinto
The Tesla Cybertruck was recalled seven times last year.
Housing Measure Wins in Seattle Special Election
Voters approved a new tax that could bring in $50 million per year for social housing.
Resilient Communities, Healthy Ecosystems: A Balanced Approach to Wildfires
Effective wildfire mitigation in California requires a holistic approach that goes beyond large-scale vegetation removal, emphasizing home hardening, defensible space, strategic planning, and reducing human-caused ignitions.
St. Petersburg’s Bike Infrastructure Efforts Pay Off
New bike infrastructure is encouraging more people to take to the streets on two wheels, but advocates say safety challenges remain.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
City of Bakersfield
Standridge Inc.
City of Brookings
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service