PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Emily Jacobi, Manhattan organizer at Transportation Alternatives, on Intro 606
7:13:01
ยท
125 sec
Emily Jacobi, speaking as a New Yorker and Brooklyn resident, strongly opposes Intro 606, arguing that it fails to address the root causes of street safety issues. She emphasizes the need for a holistic approach to improving street safety rather than focusing on enforcement.
- Jacobi distinguishes between e-bikes and mopeds, stating that conflating them is problematic.
- She advocates for street redesign tactics like daylighting to improve visibility and safety.
- Jacobi criticizes app companies for incentivizing quick delivery times at the expense of safety.
Emily Jacobi
7:13:01
Hi.
7:13:02
My name is Emily Jacoby.
7:13:03
I am a a safe streets advocate, and I am the current Manhattan organizer with Transportation Alternatives.
7:13:09
We're not really the nefarious lobby group everyone has claimed us to be, and tonight, I actually do not speak in my professional capacity.
7:13:16
I speak as a New Yorker, and I speak as a Brooklyn resident.
7:13:21
And I wanna speak out in strong opposition to intro 606 for the following reasons.
7:13:26
As a pedestrian cyclist and city bike, ebike rider, I want to say that every injury, big or small, is a massive issue on our city streets.
7:13:35
It does not matter how bad of an injury it is.
7:13:37
It doesn't matter if it's a death or a cut on your face.
7:13:41
It should not happen.
7:13:43
So we need to look holistically at why our streets are like this, and this bill, intro 606, does not take up that cause.
7:13:50
Wanting steadfast, swift issues fixed, I understand.
7:13:55
Wanting change to happen quickly, I understand and agree with, but enforcement, when we already see enforcement for mopeds that isn't changing behavior and isn't reincentivizing good behavior, shows that ebike licensing similarly will not work.
7:14:09
And I just wanna say that the conflation of an ebike, which can go a little bit faster than a regular bike, which is a useful tool for people with disabilities, is very, very different than a 100 of pound vehicle like a moped.
7:14:24
So distinct being distinct about these terms is extremely important.
7:14:27
I wanna state that in terms of pedestrian safety tactics, we know that tactics like daylighting, opening up the street to redesign for visibility for all makes everyone feel safer and move more safely on the street.
7:14:41
But what doesn't are app companies incentivizing quick delivery times, forcing delivery drivers to get to their next delivery as fast as humanly possible.
7:14:51
They are not incentivized to do this with the minds and hearts and safety of our city in mind.
7:14:57
They are incentivized to do this because of an economic incentive as was said earlier, pretty wholly about them.
UNKNOWN
7:15:03
Thank you.
7:15:03
Your time's expired.
Emily Jacobi
7:15:05
Thank you.