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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Gail Benjamin, Member of the Public, on E-bike Safety and Intro 606
4:56:32
·
138 sec
Gail Benjamin testifies in support of Intro 606, sharing personal experiences and community concerns regarding e-bike safety. She emphasizes the need for accountability and behavior change among e-bike riders to improve street safety.
- Describes an incident where her friend was hit by a bike in a crosswalk
- Represents the East 72nd Street Neighborhood Association, citing frequent complaints about e-bikes and e-scooters
- Highlights concerns from seniors and community members about safety on streets
- Argues that infrastructure alone is not enough to address the issue, emphasizing the need for accountability
Gail Benjamin
4:56:32
My name is Gail Benjamin.
4:56:34
Thank you for the opportunities to speak today.
4:56:36
I'm here for many reasons.
4:56:38
First and foremost, I'm here to support 606.
4:56:42
Secondly, I'm here to support my friend Judea who was hit by a bike 2 weeks after having a procedure on her knee.
4:56:50
She was standing in the crosswalk the crossing zone on 70 1st and second when she was struck by a bike and fell to her knees.
4:56:58
The rider looked at it and said, oh, sorry and sped off.
4:57:01
Luckily, several bystanders helped her get up and, brought her to safety.
4:57:07
Excuse me.
4:57:08
I'm here for the 35100 plus members of the East 72nd Street Neighborhood Association.
4:57:15
I'm on the steering committee.
4:57:17
The most frequent complaints we get are about e bikes and e scooters that ride on this ride on the, sidewalks, don't obey the lights, go fast, just go any which way.
4:57:30
People say they fear for their safety.
4:57:32
They are afraid to go walk on the streets.
4:57:35
Our group includes many seniors and they are especially concerned as an accident to for one of them could change their life dramatically.
4:57:44
I'm also a community liaison with the 19th precinct and I regularly go to their police community council meetings.
4:57:51
Here too, the same complaint from people.
4:57:54
It's not about crime over time or safety, it's about e bikes and what can the New York Police and the New York and New York City do about reining them in.
4:58:05
I'm here for all the members of the New York City E Bike Safety Alliance who have been hit by an e vehicle, e vehicle and his lives have been altered since.
4:58:15
Several of whom have lost their occupations as a result.
4:58:20
I'm here for me.
4:58:21
The other day had a stranger not pushed me out of the way, I would have been victim number 99.
4:58:27
I'm here because we need to make our streets again.
4:58:30
I'm here because we need Priscilla's Law 606.
4:58:34
It's like the Wild West out there.
4:58:37
And unlike the gentleman on the left who thinks infrastructure will help, it's not infrastructure.
4:58:42
We need to change people's behavior.
Selvena N. Brooks-Powers
4:58:45
Thank you.
Gail Benjamin
4:58:45
And the only way we're gonna do that is we we hold people accountable.
4:58:48
Thank you.
4:58:49
Thank you.