A ban on electric bicycles in New York City is hurting delivery workers who depend on them to earn a living. Many of the workers are immigrants. Electric bicycles, or ¡°e-bikes,¡± have foot-powered pedals like other bicycles. But they also have electric-powered motors to assist riders in moving the bike forward. Most e-bikes reach speeds of about 32 kilometers an hour, but some can go much faster. Aimin Liu often uses an e-bike to deliver up to 40 Chinese food orders all across Manhattan each day. He is 60 years old. He says an e-bike makes his job much easier. ¡°My legs are no good. I'm not capable of riding a regular bike. Both of my feet hurt. I have arthritis on both sides.¡±
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Although it is legal to own e-bikes in New York City, it is not legal to operate them. Officials there cite the dangerous use of e-bikes on streets and sidewalks as reason for the ban. Last year, the city announced severe measures meant to hold e-bike riders and restaurants that employ the riders responsible. E-bike operators can now be fined $500 for violating the ban. Police can also seize the bikes. Aimin Liu says he fears he might physically collapse if he tried to complete his daily work using a normal bicycle. He also estimates he could only deliver about half the number of orders. Many of New York's delivery workers are Chinese immigrants in their 50s and 60s. Their job requires them to work quickly and for long hours in order to earn enough money to live on. Delivery worker Deqing Lian said it is important to perform quality work because their job also depends on tips. ¡°Sometimes we go to places that are very far. If we're too slow the customers will be unhappy.¡± He added that when delivery workers are too slow, some people refuse to pay for the food. This makes the workers¡¯ supervisors angry.
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