TESTIMONY
Testimony by Dawn Eldridge: The Impact of E-Bike Legislation on Small Businesses
2:09:08
·
138 sec
Dawn Eldridge, a restaurant owner in Greenpoint, voices concern over the proposed e-bike bills T72 and T68, highlighting the negative consequences they could have on her business.
She discusses the importance of delivery services, facilitated by workers using e-bikes, in sustaining her business during challenging times.
Eldridge opposes the additional costs these bills may impose, stressing that delivery platforms are already assisting workers with safe e-bike payments under recent minimum wage rules, which have increased operational costs and customer fees, and reduced delivery orders for her restaurant.
Speaker 41
2:09:08
Good afternoon, counsel.
2:09:09
My name is Dawn Eldridge.
2:09:11
I am the owner operator of a small business restaurant in Greenpoint.
2:09:15
Thank you for offering us a chance to share our perspective on the safe use of ebikes by delivery workers in the city.
2:09:21
The bills that the council is considering while well intention could have serious consequences for our business at a time of already great uncertainty for our entire industry.
2:09:30
Since we opened the doors at Citroen, a French bistro and cocktail bar in Greenpoint, 5 years ago.
2:09:35
We have worked hard to make it a place that is welcoming for our community.
2:09:39
As lifelong New Yorkers, we take great pride in knowing our friends, neighbors, and fellow small business owners.
2:09:44
While we cherish the regular customers who come to eat and drink other restaurant delivery is what really kept our restaurant going in recent years.
2:09:51
We partner with platforms like DoorDash And Grubhub to help reach new customers beyond just our Greenpoint Neighborhood and grow our business.
2:10:00
Without these options, I don't think our restaurant would exist today.
2:10:04
That's why I'm opposed to these.
2:10:07
T 72 and T 68, which could upend the way these delivery platforms operate in New York City.
2:10:14
The vast majority of the deliveries that go out our doors are done by workers on ebikes.
2:10:19
We welcome them into our restaurant and certainly want to make sure that they are kept safe.
2:10:23
However, Businesses that do food delivery are now helping workers pay for safe ebikes through the minimum wage pay rules.
2:10:32
That went into effect late last year.
2:10:35
We're already facing new challenges from these rules.
2:10:37
Customers are already unhappy because they now have higher fees.
2:10:41
And we're starting to feel it in reduced delivery orders.
2:10:44
If these bills pass, it will impose even it will impose even more cost for things that are already being paid for.
2:10:51
It could further drive down orders and put us in an even more challenging situation.
2:10:55
We're still just figuring out how to deal with these increased costs.
2:10:59
So now is not the time to be adding new rules on top of the ones that would set us back further.
2:11:03
Meanwhile, if these platforms have limit have to limit ebike delivery service because of new rules, it would make it even harder for us to continue providing the same level of service for our own customers, and that's simply not sustainable.
Speaker 1
2:11:16
Okay.
2:11:16
Thank you.
2:11:16
I wanna thank the panel for their testimony today.
Speaker 22
2:11:20
Thank you.
Speaker 23
2:11:26
Okay.