Regulated Sustainable Delivery Services

New York City has established the Department of Sustainable Delivery (DSD) within the Department of Transportation to enhance street safety and regulate commercial delivery operations. The DSD will enforce laws governing illegal moped, e-bike, and scooter use, and ensure that delivery workers employ safe, compliant equipment. Under the Adams administration’s plan, e-bikes and scooters will be restricted to a maximum speed of 15 mph on city streets, and delivery app companies could face license revocation if they impose unrealistically tight delivery schedules on their couriers. Mayor Eric Adams and DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez emphasize that the new unit will support delivery workers, protect pedestrians, and hold platforms accountable for unsafe practices.

Despite its high-profile announcement, the DSD’s initial rollout is limited in scope and scale. Rather than a standalone agency, it functions as a division of DOT, with funding of just over US $6 million allocated for approximately 60 positions and the first cadre of up to 45 peace officers not projected to deploy until 2028. Critics note that its focus remains squarely on enforcement against individual riders rather than comprehensive regulation of gig-economy platforms, and that pending legislation will be required to equip the department with broader authority over delivery app operations. City Council members and worker advocates continue to negotiate the balance between safety enforcement, worker protections, and app accountability as part of the city’s evolving delivery policy framework.

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