Speaker Julie Menin used the July 16 carriage horse ban hearing to commit to new e-bike legislation — reviving a registration bill that stalled under her predecessor and that DOT has already testified against.

Council Speaker Julie Menin emerged from Wednesday's horse carriage ban hearing with a pledge to introduce e-bike registration legislation — a commitment critics say has more to do with political horse-trading than street safety.

The July 16 hearing was convened over a horse carriage bill known as Romanch's Law, prompted by the Central Park death of 18-year-old Romanch Mahajan. But Transport Workers Union Local 100 President John Chiarello, testifying against the carriage ban, redirected the room toward e-bikes: delivery workers "that nearly ran me down," bikes running without licenses, Amazon boxes "propelled by electric means."

Menin accepted the pivot on the spot, and then confirmed the commitment the next morning on "Good Day New York" — citing New Jersey's restrictive e-bike licensing law and promising "a ton of bills" to regulate e-bikes "not only in the park, but on the streets."

"I am definitely open to a registration mechanism," Menin said. "I do support some kind of registration, insurance, and really making sure that third-party apps take responsibility."

The registration bill she is signaling revival of — Intro 606, introduced by then-Council Member Bob Holden — stalled under Speaker Adrienne Adams after a 2024 hearing where the city Department of Transportation testified against it. Two co-sponsors dropped support after that hearing. DOT has said e-bike registration carries no proven safety benefit and risks eroding the "safety in numbers" effect that makes cycling safer for all riders.

Supporters call the measure "Priscilla's Law," honoring Priscilla Loke, killed in a 2023 Chinatown crash involving an e-Citi Bike. Streetsblog NYC reported Friday that the bill would not have changed accountability in Loke's case: the rider's bike was already registered and traceable.

Former Council Member Holden — who lost his District 30 seat in 2023 — praised Menin's commitment on social media, invoking a separate fatality on Flushing Avenue caused by an already-illegal e-moto, a vehicle Intro 606 would not have covered.

No new bill numbers have been filed as of Saturday, July 19.