PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Brian Van, Chair of Transportation Committee from Manhattan Community Board 6
2:50:37
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142 sec
Brian Van, Chair of the Transportation Committee for Manhattan Community Board 6, testified against Intro 606, arguing that it is harmful and ineffective in improving road safety. He criticized the proposed legislation for its unclear definitions, impractical implementation, and lack of logic in how it would reduce collisions or injuries.
- Van emphasized the need for street redesign and improved safety measures instead of registration and licensing requirements for e-bikes.
- He highlighted the community board's previous resolutions suggesting alternative approaches to enhance road safety.
- Van offered his expertise to discuss safety recommendations based on his 20 years of experience in New York City.
Brian Van
2:50:37
In November 2023, I was a member of Manhattan Community Board 6 and the chair of the transportation committee of that board.
2:50:44
At that time, our board resolved that the predecessor of intro 0 606, intro 0758 was, and I quote, harmful and should not be passed in its current form.
2:50:54
This resolution reiterated suggestions from a prior resolution that our board passed including design changes to moderate traffic speeds passing on bicycle lanes and greenways, education campaigns, improved signage, and improvements in the legislation covering delivery app platforms and their workers.
2:51:12
This resolution, along with a link to the prior resolution, was forwarded to council member Holden.
2:51:16
Council member Holden responded by dragging the community board and the press.
2:51:20
Today, we are discussing an introduction that has little changed since then.
2:51:23
It intends harm through unnecessary police stops, muddled definitions of vehicle types, unclear availability of registration, an impractical declaration of how a license plate would be affixed to a bicycle, a complete absence of equipment dimensions or cost information, and no provided logic as to how a registration system would reduce the incidence of collisions or limit the injuries and deaths caused by such collisions.
2:51:48
The mission of preventing roadway injuries is critical.
2:51:51
My statements today are intended to enlighten about effective measures as alternatives to ineffective measures that create harm.
2:51:58
Plate tags do nothing to improve functioning of streets.
2:52:01
And by my observation of driver behavior on existing tag vehicles, such as SUVs and mopeds, they have almost zero effect on inspiring shared accountability.
2:52:10
There is no common sense in voting for legislation that is missing key details to ensure its constitutional viability that enacts a scheme that has largely failed elsewhere despite council member Holden's refutable claims and isn't needed in an environment where there are laws and policies assuring accurate tracking of hit and run cyclists?
2:52:27
Conversely, there is common sense in redesigning streets for modern traffic flows, improving the functioning of streets.
2:52:33
We must support the management of DOT to resist anti change forces for safety redesigns.
2:52:39
We must implement proven safety designs in a more widespread fashion, including adding bike lanes in more streets, widening existing lanes, and measures to calm the street speed of traffic in those lanes.
2:52:49
Invite any council member to reach out to me to discuss safety recommendations to driver, pedestrian, and cyclist in New York City for for the past 20 years.
2:52:56
Brianvann@gmail.com.
2:52:58
Thank you.
