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PUBLIC TESTIMONY

Testimony by Cassandra Martinez on E-Bike Regulation

3:07:14

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130 sec

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Cassandra Martinez testifies against Intro 606 and in support of Intro 1131, expressing concerns that the proposed e-bike regulation could lead to discriminatory practices akin to stop-and-frisk. She argues that the bill is more about intimidation and providing opportunities for racial profiling than about safety.

Martinez, an e-bike user herself, emphasizes that the bill disproportionately affects vulnerable populations who may not be present at the hearing due to work commitments.
She shares personal experiences of being frequently stopped and fined when living in a poor neighborhood, highlighting the potential for abuse in enforcement.
Martinez calls for real solutions that safely accommodate all road users: cars, bikes, and pedestrians.

Cassandra Martinez

3:07:14

Hello?

3:07:18

Hello.

3:07:19

Thank you for allowing me to speak.

3:07:21

I am against intro 606, and I support intro 1131.

3:07:29

This is about an opportunity to stop and frisk.

3:07:33

I personally ride an e bike.

3:07:34

I have a car.

3:07:35

I have an e bike that's made by 360, which is a bike company that specializes in bike for seniors and people that are partially mobility impaired.

3:07:46

But I'm against intro 606.

3:07:49

The point of this bill is number 1, to intimidate people to not use micro mobility, and number 2, to provide opportunity for stop and frisk.

3:08:00

The creators of this bill are trying to hide the fact that this is about racism, cultural ethnicity, and class.

3:08:09

The word safety is being used as a wrapper for an opportunity to stop people, create a real solution that gives space to each user safely, the cars, the bikes, and the pedestrians.

3:08:25

Where does a annual license registration get sent when you don't have a traditional apartment lease?

3:08:33

Are you at risk of being guilty of being poor?

3:08:37

The most vulnerable people impacted here aren't here because they're working.

3:08:46

I can tell you myself when I was in my twenties, I lived in neighborhoods that were part of stop and frisk.

3:08:53

And I actually did get stopped and frisked with my car at least once a week.

3:09:00

This is a time when these tickets were a $100 and I made about $750 a week.

3:09:07

So about $400 was going a week to tickets that I was getting stopped.

3:09:15

Why?

3:09:15

Because I was poor and I lived in a poor neighborhood by the airport.

3:09:23

Thank you.

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Testimony by Marissa Redanti, Member of the Public, on E-bike Safety and Regulation

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Testimony by Paul Mondeser on E-bike and Micromobility Regulation