Underground E-Bike Parking Surges in East Village

Delivery workers have unofficially taken over a stretch of 11th Street in Manhattan, parking their e-bikes overnight, with one guard posted to monitor the bikes during nighttime hours. Most locals told us they see the bike cluster as a minor inconvenience or simply part of the working landscape.

What began with just a few bikes has grown significantly over two years, with recent sightings showing around 50 bikes lined along the street and sidewalk. The bikes are often linked to food delivery services, with some equipped with bags for carrying orders.

The makeshift bike storage area is close to a school serving grades 6-12 and a nearby playground. Riders explained that they usually leave their bikes parked overnight and return the next day to work. Many note they take measures to protect their bikes, with some residents mentioning that someone stays during the night to watch over the vehicles.

E-bikes lining the street near a school and playground — The e-bikes are parked near a school and playground, but they don’t seem to bother many residents.

Most community members see the situation as manageable. One resident remarked, “It’s not any more of an eyesore than a car,” expressing acceptance of the bikes’ presence despite their disorderly appearance. Another resident expressed concern over safety, citing the speed of many e-bikes and their frequent disregard for traffic signals, raising worries about potential accidents.

In response to the rise of reckless e-bike riding, city officials, including Mayor Eric Adams, are pushing for a 15 mph speed limit and stricter enforcement to improve safety amid ongoing efforts to regulate e-bike use more effectively.