QUEENS, NY – A devastating head-on collision between a high-speed electric scooter and a bicycle on the Queensboro Bridge has left two men dead, sparking intense demands for stricter safety regulations on city bike paths.
The Fatal Collision
The crash occurred just after 8:00 a.m. on Thursday, May 28, along the highly congested bike lane of the bridge.
According to the New York City Police Department (NYPD) preliminary investigation, a 39-year-old man, identified as Francis Del Valle, was riding a motorized stand-up scooter westbound when he collided directly with 35-year-old cyclist Dmytro Stechenko, who was traveling east.
Emergency responders rushed both men to a nearby hospital, where they were unfortunately pronounced dead.
Illegal Speed Capabilities Outlined
Advocacy groups and city officials confirmed that the e-scooter involved in the crash was an illegal device capable of reaching speeds over 50 mph.
Under New York State DMV law, it is strictly illegal to operate an electric scooter that exceeds 20 mph. Local commuters have long complained about the hazards on the bridge, citing:
- High Speeds: E-scooters frequently travel at dangerous, unregulated speeds.
- Poor Lighting: Blind spots and pitch-black conditions during dawn and dusk hours make visibility nearly impossible.
- Congestion: The 11-foot-wide lane handles heavy two-way traffic, making it a bottleneck near the Manhattan entrance.
Advocates Push For Action
The fatal incident comes just a year after city officials attempted to separate pedestrian and cyclist lanes on the busy bridge.
Following the tragedy, the nonprofit organization Transportation Alternatives urged the City Council to fast-track the “Ride Safe, Ride Right” bill, which aims to ban the sale of ultra-fast micromobility devices.
A spokesperson for Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s office issued a statement calling the crash a “grim reminder” of the dangers of high-speed devices, pledging that the administration will continue working to remove illegal scooters from city roadways.
