Q&A
Council Member Holden questions DOT officials on e-bike safety and data collection
0:25:44
·
4 min
Council Member Robert F. Holden expresses concerns about e-bike safety and questions DOT officials on their lack of precise data regarding traffic law compliance by e-bike riders. The DOT representatives, including Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez and Assistant Commissioner Will Carry, respond to these concerns, highlighting the complexity of the issue and their efforts to gather more data.
- Holden argues that a high percentage of e-bike riders do not adhere to traffic laws and criticizes DOT for not having specific numbers.
- DOT officials acknowledge the issue but emphasize the need for more comprehensive data collection.
- The discussion touches on the balance between safety concerns and the important role of delivery workers in the city.
Robert F. Holden
0:25:44
Okay.
0:25:45
Commissioner, I'm a little puzzled by your testimony, because you know it's such a big problem in this city.
0:25:52
If you look at the e vehicles especially, 90 I would say, I've stood on some corners, 95% of the delivery guys or 95% of the e bike riders do not adhere to any traffic laws.
0:26:10
What what what's your studies indicate?
Ydanis Rodriguez
0:26:15
A temporary commissioner will would like to answer that question.
Will Carry
0:26:22
So it's a council member, thank you for the question.
0:26:24
It's an important issue.
0:26:27
We are in the process of, collecting more data on
Selvena N. Brooks-Powers
0:26:34
Sergeant, if you see someone make any sounds, please have them removed.
Will Carry
0:26:40
Anybody who walks around the streets of New York, can see this issue.
0:26:45
And I'm sure when you stand on street corners in your district or when other members stand on street corners in their district, they will see that there's too much dangerous riding, by e bike riders, and by other users of these devices.
Robert F. Holden
0:26:59
Right.
0:26:59
We know that.
0:27:00
We know that.
0:27:00
And I've stated that.
0:27:01
And all you need to do is look around any block in New York City.
0:27:06
You will see it.
0:27:07
So that's why I'm puzzled that DOT doesn't have numbers right away.
0:27:13
You should you have the technology.
0:27:15
You have the data.
0:27:17
You have the personnel.
0:27:18
You can figure this out.
0:27:20
Except you chose not to because of some regulations that you feel it's gonna be imposing, it's gonna, you know, impact one group or another.
0:27:31
I don't care about it.
0:27:31
A red light does not in is not racist.
0:27:34
A red light is for safety.
0:27:37
I drive an e vehicle, by the way.
0:27:40
Why shouldn't I ride without a license plate?
0:27:43
I mean, because I it's a car, but it's an e vehicle.
0:27:46
And that's what these, you know, mopeds or whatever, you know, and these other things, these, ebikes are.
0:27:52
So you don't have the numbers, that says a lot about your agency.
0:27:56
That you should be able to fire off, yeah, on this corner or that corner, you you know, 85%, 95%.
0:28:03
When something's an epidemic, and that's what this is, and it's a health hazard, a safety hazard, that should be priority number 1 with DOT.
0:28:11
Thank you, chair.
Selvena N. Brooks-Powers
0:28:12
Thank you.
Ydanis Rodriguez
0:28:12
I I gotta say something.
0:28:15
Because in life, we never know.
0:28:17
For 2 years, I was in that side, passing a numbers of bill, more than 40 bills that made the agency accountable.
0:28:25
Now I am in this side.
0:28:27
I gotta tell you one thing.
0:28:28
We all should be proud on the previous commissioners, on the leadership that we are right now, that we run the best and the largest department of transportation in the United States.
0:28:40
We only and this is the important conversation that we are having right now.
0:28:45
But when we walk out from this building, everything from sidewalk, from signal, to roadway, to paving, is this agency.
0:28:53
This agency you heard in my testimony.
0:28:55
One of the area that we want to look at it is to bring the app company, you know, and work with some bill with you guys, elected official, so that also we get more report from the data that they use.
0:29:08
But as someone that only need to stand in a corner in the street, most deliberate workers, they do a great job and then they and then your job.
0:29:19
They bringing the food to our apartments.
0:29:22
There's a percentage that they are
Robert F. Holden
0:29:23
Commissioner.
Ydanis Rodriguez
0:29:24
They don't represent the majority.
Robert F. Holden
0:29:25
Commissioner, if you're gonna focus only on delivery guys, I get that.
0:29:30
But a Citibike, ebike, hit Priscilla Law.
0:29:34
Kilder, September 5th again, it's a year we met with the mayor, by the way, with advocates and also transportation alternatives.
0:29:44
Alright?
0:29:44
The mayor said he supports my bill 606.
0:29:47
The fact that it didn't trickle down to your agency is puzzling.
Selvena N. Brooks-Powers
0:29:51
Thank you, council member.
0:29:53
Council member Osei.
