NYPD clears delivery bikes from New York’s Roosevelt Hotel shelter

NYPD Cracks Down on Illegal E-Bikes and Mopeds Outside Roosevelt HotelNYPD Cracks Down on Illegal E-Bikes and Mopeds Outside Roosevelt Hotel In a decisive move, the NYPD has cleared dozens of delivery bikes parked illegally outside the Roosevelt Hotel in Midtown Manhattan. This action is part of an intensified citywide crackdown on unregistered and illegal mopeds and e-bikes. The Roosevelt Hotel, which was converted into a migrant shelter last year, had become a hotspot for illegal bicycles. An unsightly agglomeration of parked bikes obstructed pedestrian traffic along East 46th Street. According to the NYPD, the bikes were primarily used for food deliveries but were not registered with the city or were parked illegally. “Numerous operations” have been conducted to remove these bikes, said the NYPD Assistant Commissioner for Public Information. The removal of the bikes took place recently, according to local businesses. The NYPD is also increasing its focus on the use of motorized bicycles to commit crimes. Statistics show a significant rise in the use of scooters, motorcycles, or mopeds as getaway vehicles in seven major crimes. The NYPD’s efforts are supported by businesses near the Roosevelt Hotel, who have complained about the adverse effects of the illegal bicycles on their operations. Fred Cerullo, president of the Grand Central Partnership, which represents area businesses, expressed support for the NYPD’s actions. The city is also considering several bills to regulate food app delivery companies, including making them responsible for moped registrations and liability in accidents involving their employees.

Dozens of delivery bikes parked in front of the Roosevelt Hotel have been cleared by the NYPD as part of an intensified crackdown on unregistered and illegal mopeds and e-bikes in the city, The Post has learned.

The landmark Midtown hotel near Grand Central Terminal, which was converted into a migrant shelter last year, also became a high-profile hotspot for illegal bicycles last fall.

In recent months, an unsightly hodgepodge of parked bicycles routinely confronted pedestrians on East 46th Street along the block stretching between Madison and Vanderbilt avenues.

A closed, empty corridor in front of the Roosevelt Hotel, where no fewer than 75 mopeds and e-bikes were once parked. GNMiller/NYPost

The parked bikes — one estimate says there could be as many as 75 bikes at any one time — were primarily used for food deliveries, but they were not registered with the city or were parked illegally, an NYPD spokesperson said.

“There have been numerous operations over time to acquire illegal, unregistered or improperly stored mopeds/bicycles/etc. to remove. at this location,” the NYPD Assistant Commissioner for Public Information said in a statement.

DCPI did not reveal when the bikes were removed from the hotel, but local businesses say it happened sometime in the past few weeks.

The iconic Roosevelt Hotel has become a symbol of the city’s struggle to cope with a huge influx of migrants, many of whom work as delivery drivers.

The city is ramping up efforts to address safety concerns surrounding motorized bicycles — which resulted in 97 fires last year — an issue that came up Friday during a City Council hearing on seven bills to regulate food app delivery companies.

Several of the proposed laws would make the app companies — including Grubhub, Doordash and Uber Eats — responsible for moped registrations and for assuming liability when their employees are involved in accidents.

The NYPD has stepped up efforts to crack down on unregistered mopeds and illegally parked e-bikes. GNMiller/NYPost NYPD removed dozens of mopeds and bicycles that were unregistered or illegally parked outside the Roosevelt Hotel. Christopher Sadowski

In addition, the NYPD is increasingly focusing on the way motorized bicycles are used to commit crimes.

Earlier this month, NYPD officers seized some 39 mopeds in Midtown and issued 40 citations citing a rise in “snatch-and-run” crimes using motorized scooters and mopeds as getaway vehicles. The Post reported.

NYPD statistics show that of the seven major crimes, scooters, motorcycles or mopeds have been used as getaway vehicles 790 times so far this year, compared to just 156 times in the same period in 2022.

The Roosevelt Hotel was converted into a migrant shelter last year. Seth Gottfried Earlier this month, an NYPD officer seized 39 unregistered mopeds in Midtown and arrested this driver for trying to flee, dragging the officer with him. N.Y.P.D

Local businesses near or adjacent to the Roosevelt Hotel have complained that their businesses have suffered since the property was converted into a shelter.

The Grand Central Partnership, which represents area businesses, was not aware of the NYPD bicycle parking at the hotel, Fred Cerullo, president of the Business Improvement District, told The Post.

“We support the mayor and the NYPD in all efforts to remove (unregistered motorized bicycles) from our streets and sidewalks,” Cerulla said. “It has certainly alleviated some of the chaos that has surrounded the pedestrian experience here in Midtown East.”