On February 9, Councilor Ed Flynn re-filed an amended ordinance to effectively ban mopeds and e-bikes from third-party food delivery.

Since 2022, the City of Boston has encouraged large third-party food delivery companies to have drivers use two-wheel vehicles, while the companies also incentivized workers to prioritize speed over safety to get more assignments and higher ratings,” Flynn said.

The Boston Cyclists Union, which supported the legalization of e-bikes, opposed the ban, arguing that it would only lead to more traffic and exclude gig workers.

“Delivery platforms currently bear little responsibility for harm caused during deliveries, while their pay structures incentivize speed over safety; meaningful reform requires holding the companies accountable for the conditions they create,” BCU said in a statement. 

Uber Eats specifically offers “Quests” to its drivers—bonuses for meeting set goals within a given timeframe. “They basically tell you that if you do 15 deliveries in a four-hour window, you get extra money,” explained a former rider who posts videos of her deliveries under @lanlunaonwheels on Instagram.

Lanluna said she started making deliveries last year after she lost her job. Her E-bike required no insurance, and she didn’t have to search for parking. She could pull up to the restaurant, grab the order, and be back on the road in seconds. Under Flynn’s ordinance, Lanluna believes riders in her situation will be forced out of the gig.

“You do what you need to do to make ends meet. The way the apps are set up, you get paid per ride. The more rides you do per shift, the better, the more money you make,” she said.

BCU Events and Communications Manager Mandy Wilkens likened this incentive structure to Domino’s Pizza ‘30 minutes or less’ guarantee – a promotion that ended following a series of lawsuits, including one fatality.

“The reality is that Domino’s was responsible for that, because these delivery drivers were employees, and it was part of their job to deliver as fast as humanly possible,” Wilkens said. “There’s not necessarily a time limit per se, but their job relies on them delivering as fast as possible.” 

Since delivery drivers are contractors rather than employees, third-party delivery companies have minimal liability and aren’t even required to pay a minimum wage. Instead, riders must complete quick deliveries in hopes of earning a decent tip and a high rating.

Wilkens added that the issue is with systems, not individuals, and that we should have more empathy toward delivery drivers and the workers whose labor feeds our communities. “The reality is, most people are trying out new restaurants through delivery and these apps. There has to be somebody to deliver that, and those people are actually really struggling financially,” they said.

A 2022 report by the Metropolitan Area Planning Council found that most delivery drivers earn less than $16 per hour after expenses and are more likely to be younger and of lower income. The report recommends requiring third-party delivery services to insure delivery workers, similar to their ridesharing counterparts, and ensuring delivery workers receive safety training and fair compensation.

Similar measures were implemented by New York City in January. The city’s 80,000 delivery workers now receive a minimum pay rate, enhanced tipping protections, and increased pay transparency.

The BCU’s stance is that, rather than implementing blanket bans that penalize riders, the city should focus on regulating app-based delivery systems to ensure they are responsible for their contractors’ safety and legal compliance. 

Wilkens stated that this resolution further strains an already strained relationship between the BCU and City Hall. They claim that, due to the politicization of bike lanes during the 2025 mayoral election, Mayor Michelle Wu has deprioritized many Safe Streets projects, and that the half-measures the city has implemented create an unsafe environment for commuters.

“We’re hoping that the mayor can unpause these street projects and keep delivering, especially where they’re most needed.”