PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Brad Hoylman-Sigel, State Senator from New York State Senate, on E-bike Safety and Regulation
1:59:46
·
3 min
State Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigel testified on the importance of e-bike safety and regulation, highlighting the increasing presence of micromobility devices on NYC streets. He discussed state-level legislative efforts to address safety concerns, including a bill requiring moped registration at point of sale and proposed legislation for licensing commercial e-bikes.
- Emphasized the need for state-level e-bike licensing through the Department of Motor Vehicles
- Mentioned a recent symposium and report on micromobility safety with 18 policy suggestions
- Highlighted the dangers faced by food delivery workers using e-bikes, citing a high fatality rate
Brad Hoylman-Sigel
1:59:46
Good afternoon, Chair Brooks Powers and council members.
1:59:51
Thank you for having this very important hearing and thank you to the members of the public and advocates, for their consistent engagement on this issue.
2:00:01
I'm state senator Brad Hoylman Siegel.
2:00:03
I represent the west side of Manhattan from Christopher Street, in the village up to West A 100 and Third on the Upper West Side.
2:00:14
It goes without saying that, from what you've heard from your colleagues that street safety is one of the most common issues, raised by our constituents and for good reason.
2:00:32
In the past 5 years, the number of e bikes, mopeds, and e scooters on our streets have increased exponentially.
2:00:41
In addition to the over 65,000 delivery workers most of whom use micro mobility, more than 50,000 New Yorkers ride an electric city bike daily.
2:00:54
Last March, in collaboration with the Midtown Community Justice Centre in my senate district, council member Brewer, council member Boettcher, the borough president, assembly members including assembly members Rosenthal and Simone and other elected officials helped lead a symposium to reimagine micromobility safety in New York City.
2:01:20
With input from city and state agencies, Deliveryistas and other issue area experts, we studied the causes of our changing streetscape and analyzed solutions.
2:01:34
This week, we released a report that included 18 policy suggestions, some of which I and my colleagues have introduced as legislation at the state level.
2:01:49
Thanks to the ideas the group generated, I was proud to pass a bill, s 7703 a, requiring mopeds to be registered at the point of sale in collaboration with assembly member Alex Borys.
2:02:05
And I wanna thank councilmember Holden for acknowledging its effectiveness in your op ed today in the New York Post.
2:02:15
I've also introduced legislation s 7587 and a 7833 alongside Assemblymember Tony Symone, which would require licensing and registration for ebikes used for commercial purposes statewide.
2:02:31
We believe commercial ebikes are the proper target for licensing.
2:02:36
Delivery workers are subject to draconian performance criteria with consequences such as deactivation.
2:02:43
I'm sorry.
Selvena N. Brooks-Powers
2:02:43
I'm just gonna ask if you could just wrap
Brad Hoylman-Sigel
2:02:45
up and
Selvena N. Brooks-Powers
2:02:46
the yep.
Brad Hoylman-Sigel
2:02:46
Thank you.
2:02:46
These policies uniquely incentivize them to break traffic laws.
2:02:50
It's no coincidence that the food delivery industry suffer a fatality rate of 36 per per 100,000 workers making it the most dangerous profession in New York City.
2:03:00
We believe that e bike licensing should occur at the state level.
2:03:04
New York State has a Department of Motor Vehicles that has registered vehicles for the past 64 years.
2:03:10
The DMV already Thank you.
2:03:13
Has the digital infrastructure and capacity for processing registrations, issuing plates and punishing violators.
Selvena N. Brooks-Powers
2:03:20
Thank you so much.
Brad Hoylman-Sigel
2:03:21
Thank you very much.
2:03:22
It's an honor to be here today.
Selvena N. Brooks-Powers
2:03:24
It's great to see you.
