Q&A
Council Member Restler questions DOT on e-bike safety and registration effectiveness
0:50:52
·
4 min
Council Member Lincoln Restler engages in a heated discussion with DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez about e-bike safety and the effectiveness of proposed registration measures. Restler emphasizes the higher danger posed by cars and questions the evidence supporting e-bike registration as a safety measure. The exchange highlights differing views on addressing micromobility safety concerns.
- Restler presents data showing that cars cause the vast majority (92%) of traffic fatalities in NYC
- Commissioner Rodriguez acknowledges the data but also cites community concerns about reckless e-bike riders
- The discussion reveals tensions between evidence-based approaches and responding to public perceptions of safety issues
Lincoln Restler
0:50:52
thank you for your leadership.
0:50:53
It's great to be back at the transportation committee.
0:50:57
I used to be on it.
0:50:58
I don't get to be anymore, but I show up anyway sometimes.
0:51:00
I miss you too.
0:51:03
So thank you, commissioner and DOT team.
0:51:07
You know, I've had close encounters with e bikes, on the streets of the 33rd Council District.
0:51:13
It's one of the concerns that we hear most frequently in our office is that people are concerned about safety.
0:51:20
And, you know, I want to work together with your team to improve safety in our community for everybody.
0:51:26
I know that's a priority of yours.
0:51:27
It's certainly a priority of mine for pedestrians, for cyclists, for drivers, for all of us.
0:51:32
I just want us to take evidence based approaches that are gonna make the most consequential difference.
0:51:37
You know, when I look at the data so far for 2024 of the 103 people who have been killed on the streets of New York City, far too much traffic violence.
0:51:45
1 was caused by an e scooter, 2 were caused by bikes, 5 were caused by mopeds or motorcycles, which are already required to be registered by the DMV, and too many of them are not.
0:51:54
That is a problem.
0:51:57
95 were caused by cars.
0:51:59
92%.
0:52:01
So when we look at what's an you know, what where we need to focus the most of our attention, it's the cars that are killing people on the streets of New York City.
0:52:08
Overwhelmingly, 90 something percent of the deaths this year have been caused by cars.
0:52:14
So 22 cyclists though have been killed on the streets of New York City, and we need to do more to protect their lives as well.
0:52:21
Is there any evidence when you look at other municipalities, look at the research that your team has done, that would suggest that registration of ebikes would lead to fewer pedestrian deaths in New York City?
0:52:33
And commissioner Eric Webb would like to answer.
Ydanis Rodriguez
0:52:35
We we do agree with you.
0:52:37
Then I send and when I did my opening testimony that, the larger numbers of fatalities involve drivers, there's a percentage who involve small percentage that is involve scooters.
0:52:49
And and we do agree that it it the main targets should be addressing those negative behavior of those who drive a vehicle.
0:52:57
However, when Mayor Adams went to the upper west side
Lincoln Restler
0:53:01
Commissioner, just because I'm time I'm time.
0:53:02
Could you answer the question?
Ydanis Rodriguez
0:53:03
Yeah.
0:53:04
When we went to the upper west side, girl was there.
0:53:06
And when I hear in any in any district where the mayor hold a community meeting, they ask about what can you do with those reckless riding Soviet scooter.
0:53:17
Is it something that is happening in our city?
0:53:19
So we're focusing Vision 0 focusing on drivers, but we also know that there's a percentage of reckless individual who use e bike and a scooter.
Lincoln Restler
0:53:29
Right.
0:53:29
But would sorry.
0:53:30
My question again was, would registration of e bikes lead to fewer pedestrian fatalities?
0:53:35
Mister Beaton, would you please respond?
Ydanis Rodriguez
0:53:39
On behalf of the agency
UNKNOWN
0:53:40
as a commissioner
Lincoln Restler
0:53:41
Or somebody.
0:53:41
I just need to I'm just looking for an answer
Ydanis Rodriguez
0:53:43
to your question.
0:53:43
On behalf of the agency as a commissioner.
Chris Ryan
0:53:45
Please.
Ydanis Rodriguez
0:53:45
I gave you the answer and I
Lincoln Restler
0:53:47
But you didn't answer
Selvena N. Brooks-Powers
0:53:47
the question.
Ydanis Rodriguez
0:53:48
I can add my answer is that we don't be we believe on the intent of this bill, but we don't we don't support the bill as you say.
0:53:56
We do believe that
Lincoln Restler
0:53:57
Is there any evidence that would indicate that registration of ebikes would lead to fewer serious crashes or deaths on the streets of New York City?
Ydanis Rodriguez
0:54:04
We don't necessarily have agree with that.
0:54:07
What we agree is that
Lincoln Restler
0:54:08
We don't agree that there is any evidence
Selvena N. Brooks-Powers
0:54:10
that Sergeant, if you've observed someone with an outburst, please remove them now.
Ydanis Rodriguez
0:54:14
What we agreed is that we need to look in the comprehensive plan of this problem, and we that's why we support chairman a bill to create a task force to address this issue.
Lincoln Restler
0:54:23
Okay.
0:54:23
I just I I think where we need greater
Ydanis Rodriguez
0:54:25
accountability I'll just
Lincoln Restler
0:54:26
wrap in 10 seconds.
0:54:28
Where we need greater accountability is on these app companies, and we need to make sure that they are prioritizing safety, that they are providing legal vehicles to their workers.
0:54:36
Right now, it is incentivized for them to get from point a to point z as quickly as possible.
0:54:40
Speed is the only thing that is prioritized.
0:54:42
They get paid more when they deliver faster.
0:54:44
What we need is for to be giving more work out to the to this, delivery workers who follow the rules of the road, who keep our streets safe.
0:54:52
That's what we should be incentivizing with these app companies.
0:54:54
We should be paying more more compensation for the workers who follow the rules, and we need to make sure they have legal vehicles.
0:55:00
Those are the things that I think will help us the most.
0:55:02
I don't understand how registration improves safety in our communities.
0:55:05
Thank you very much.
Ydanis Rodriguez
0:55:06
Well, thank you.
0:55:07
And council member, is that you didn't hear when I read my testimony because because okay.
0:55:12
Okay.
0:55:12
So if you're ready, there's a part there's a a 2 paragraph dedicated on how what we need to focus about those up company that hired us.
0:55:20
Yeah.
Selvena N. Brooks-Powers
0:55:22
Thank you.
0:55:23
Next, we'll hear from council member Areola, followed by council member Rivera, followed by council member Della Rosa.
