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Q&A
Council Member Brewer questions Commissioner Rodriguez on e-bike safety measures and data sharing
0:32:38
·
4 min
Council Member Gale A. Brewer engages in a Q&A session with DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez, discussing various aspects of e-bike safety, regulation, and data sharing. Brewer inquires about support for state-level licensing, speed limits for e-bikes, mandatory data sharing from apps, and battery charging solutions.
- Brewer mentions her bill (Intro 20 of 2024) requiring safety equipment and training for licensees
- Discussion on potential speed limits for e-bikes, with Brewer suggesting 15 mph
- Exploration of using app data to improve street safety and enforce rules
- Conversation about battery swapping programs and efforts to replace old, unsafe e-bike batteries
Gale A. Brewer
0:32:38
Thank you.
0:32:38
A couple questions.
0:32:39
First of all, just, you mentioned licensees in your suggestion should be required to have safety equipment, regular safety training, etcetera.
0:32:48
Just so you know, we have a bill that had a hearing in consumer intro, 20 of 2024 that does exactly that.
0:32:56
So we'd love your support of that bill, just so you know, in the consumer committee.
0:33:00
Number 2, I have we have an intro that says licensing, but on the state level.
0:33:07
Would you support something like that?
0:33:09
Because I don't think that on the city level, we do licensing.
0:33:12
So I'm just wondering, would you support it on the state level?
Ydanis Rodriguez
0:33:16
We will more than happy to sit down with you.
Gale A. Brewer
0:33:19
Because the info was is being discussed today.
Ydanis Rodriguez
0:33:21
Talk about that.
0:33:21
Yeah.
Gale A. Brewer
0:33:22
Okay.
0:33:22
Number, 3 is the issue of apps and what they should do to be responsible.
0:33:28
Apps, I think, should use their technology to play a big role in street safety.
0:33:33
Data shows that when people are riding the wrong way on one way streets, data can show that.
0:33:38
It shows how fast they can go.
0:33:40
So one question I have is, do you support a speed limit?
0:33:44
I believe Citibank is now 18, I think it should be 15, And same thing for delivery people.
0:33:49
Do you support a speed limit for these bikes?
Ydanis Rodriguez
0:33:53
We we support and we're working to take any step that is needed to improve safety for everyone.
0:34:00
And and and and probably, if there's a idea of looking at reducing the speed limit, probably the best way to go is to think about a pilot program that we can think about any particular area.
0:34:11
And again, more than happy to follow that conversation with you, council member Bruce.
Gale A. Brewer
0:34:15
Okay.
0:34:15
Because we're also with the apps.
0:34:17
I know the data is always available, but the apps have the data.
0:34:20
I don't believe, and you can tell me, if the city agencies have the data.
0:34:25
Apps know when you're on the sidewalk.
0:34:27
Apps know when you're going too fast.
0:34:29
Would you suggest that the apps share that data mandatory with the city so that we would know?
0:34:35
Now, I am not interested in people getting arrested.
0:34:38
I'm particularly the delivery people, but I do think, with all due respect, I'm a big supporter of the police department.
0:34:46
There's no way in hell they can arrest or stop all of these bikes, particularly if they don't have licenses.
0:34:51
So my question is, what else can we do to slow them down, pay attention to the rules of the road?
0:34:57
Having this data might help.
0:34:58
Are you asking for it?
0:34:59
Do you think you would mandate that it be given to the city agencies?
Ydanis Rodriguez
0:35:03
Yes, council member.
0:35:04
And as you know, when when we were serving together, we passed a bill that mandated Citi Bike, to share the data to us, something that they were not mandated to do it by law.
0:35:13
And we passed the bill.
0:35:14
I I believe that all those are company, and that's what I send the testimony.
0:35:18
Definitely, they should share all the data because, you know, everyone had to do their part, and and sharing the data is very important to me.
Gale A. Brewer
0:35:25
Okay.
0:35:25
Because we have a bill to do that in that I've will be introducing that we're drafting now.
0:35:30
Finally, just in terms of the batteries, not directly, but I am really concerned and I have passed laws and you are also about the fires.
0:35:38
Groups like Pop Wheels or companies like Pop Wheels, are they allowed now off the pilot to be able to be installed in different neighborhoods so that batteries do not get, charged at home?
Ydanis Rodriguez
0:35:51
Yeah.
0:35:51
I I I wanna say a little bit of what we are doing and the we'll we'll follow that one.
0:35:56
And as you know, we work together with the council when we came to the swapping, ebike, some customer, including customer member.
0:36:06
We're very aware that we they are Union Square.
0:36:08
And and what we know is that a a number of deliberate workers, they took advantage of being able to be part of the pilot program that they brought the old they bought it and they were able to charge.
0:36:19
Right now, we are also working to with a couple of $1,000,000, $2,000,000 that we will be able to work with hundreds of delivery workers, and we're gonna be exchanging the old e bike and battery for new one and certified one.
0:36:34
So we are not waiting for any bill working together.
0:36:37
We've taken some necessary step for the safety operation, but also for the safety of the own delivery workers and even in those, residents who live in building that many fire have happened because those old batteries.