Q&A
Introduction of council member's bill on e-bike safety and regulation
1:17:07
·
147 sec
Council Member Brooks-Powers introduces her bill aimed at improving safety and regulation for e-bikes and other new modes of transportation. The discussion focuses on the bill's intent and DOT's response to community input on street design and infrastructure related to e-bike safety.
- The bill proposes a holistic approach to make new transportation modes safer for all street users
- DOT expresses support for the bill's intent to create a task force for comprehensive planning
- The task force would focus on infrastructure improvements and other aspects of safety
- DOT highlights ongoing efforts in education and infrastructure development for e-bike safety
Selvena N. Brooks-Powers
1:17:07
Thank you.
1:17:08
Moving to the bills that we're hearing today, I had a couple of questions around that.
1:17:15
Starting with my own bill, which thank you for expressing support for the bill, and just to reiterate the intent on that bill is to look at this growing, new mode of transport relatively new mode of transportation, and viewing it more holistically in terms of how we make it safer, for all in terms of the street, and how we better regulate this new, transportation means.
1:17:42
And so how does DOT currently receive and respond to community input on street design and infrastructure specifically related to ebike safety?
Ydanis Rodriguez
1:17:55
And I will start and then Eric, he also may add to to this.
1:18:01
What we know is that we all are interested in improving safety.
1:18:08
We know that your bill call us to come together in a task force and work in a comprehensive plan where we can come together, brainstorm, thinking about different idea on how we can improve safety.
1:18:25
But safety involve different aspect.
1:18:28
Infrastructure is important one.
1:18:30
And as I say, we are the 1st city in the United States that is widening the back lane.
1:18:35
We are the 1st city in the United States that was able to build 32 mile protected back lane last year.
1:18:41
But beside infrastructure, we also are doing our educational work.
1:18:46
Yes.
1:18:46
We lost 23 cyclists last year.
1:18:49
But 7 of those cyclists that we lost, they were using e bike that they were not hit by no one.
1:18:56
And that's why we did a social media campaign educating around get smart before you start.
1:19:02
Educating those who use ebike about how to maneuver a ebike, how to accelerate, how to stop.
1:19:09
Because what we know that being a growing of more New Yorkers and visitors using the ebike, but also we know the education is key.
1:19:15
So more than happy here to work with you with this bill, creating this task force that we'll be looking at infrastructure.
1:19:22
But as I say, all also we like to add to make it broader, to also look at all the aspects on how we can improve safety for everyone, for those who use a bike, for those that walk in our street.
