James Crugnale, a freelance environmental writer for Streetsblog New York City, expressed that Amazon's cargo e-bikes contribute to safer streets and align with New York's sustainability objectives. This statement was made in a published opinion article.
"With the House of Bezos making over two million deliveries a day to the Big Apple, the e-retailer said back in May that it had expanded its micromobility fleet to “advance the city and region's sustainability goals” and address its own urban freight delivery needs — so far, the tiny little trucks appear to be absolutely crushing it," said Crugnale. "In the process, they have made our trafficscapes a lot safer. With a weight of just 1,322 pounds, these e-cargo bikes are far less likely to kill a pedestrian than the average delivery van which can tip the scales at 15,000 pounds or more. As previously reported by Streetsblog, a 2021 study published in the journal Economics of Transportation found that replacing light trucks with cars between 2000 and 2019 would have averted 8,100 pedestrian fatalities."
Amazon reported that "in 2024 alone, more than 60 million packages were delivered to Amazon customers through [alternative delivery] programs in New York City." These initiatives include electric cargo bikes, on-foot deliveries, and local small business hubs. The company said this model addresses urban congestion, reduces emissions, and supports its sustainability commitment under The Climate Pledge.
According to the NYC Department of Transportation, "more than 400 cargo bikes from multiple companies operate under the Commercial Cargo Bike Program, with thousands of packages delivered each day." The agency said the program reduces truck traffic and vehicle miles traveled while improving air quality and safety on congested streets.
Streetsblog USA reported that "from 2000 to 2019, if every light truck had instead been a car, 8,131 pedestrians would still be alive today." The article connected the rising number of pedestrian deaths to the increased presence of larger vehicles, including light trucks and SUVs, which cause greater harm in collisions compared to smaller vehicles.
Crugnale is a freelance environmental writer who contributes regularly to Streetsblog New York City. His reporting focuses on topics such as urban mobility, micromobility innovation, green infrastructure, and pedestrian safety. He often writes from his home neighborhood of Vinegar Hill in Brooklyn and covers transportation trends impacting New Yorkers.