PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Nathaniel Bachelis on Opposition to Intro 606
7:40:23
·
124 sec
Nathaniel Bachelis, a resident of Brooklyn, testifies against Intro 606, expressing concern over the proposed e-bike regulations. He shares his personal experience as an e-bike user and argues that e-bikes are not inherently dangerous but rather vulnerable, emphasizing their importance for families and as an alternative to cars.
- Bachelis highlights the benefits of e-bikes for busy working parents and their potential to reduce car dependency.
- He recounts a recent accident involving his wife and child on an e-bike, questioning how the proposed regulations would improve safety.
- The testimony emphasizes the need to encourage e-bike usage rather than discourage it, especially with the upcoming congestion pricing.
Nathaniel Bachelis
7:40:23
To the chair of the council.
7:40:24
My name is Nathaniel Bocelles, and I'm testifying today against intro intro 606 because I'm appalled and frankly scared of what the council is contemplating today.
7:40:31
My wife and I reside in Greenwood Sunset Park neighborhood of Brent Brooklyn with our 2 kids aged 6 to 8.
7:40:36
We use cargo e bikes as our primary form of transportation aside from the subway.
7:40:39
They're such amazing devices, and I think everyone who can should try to use them, especially busy working parents like us.
7:40:44
And in fact, the e part is what allows more people to use them.
7:40:47
It's the opposite of ableist.
7:40:48
We're able to live car free with mobility promised by car commercials, but realize in fact.
7:40:52
But instead of us talking about, say, tax credits or e bikes encourage more e bike and car e bike usage, let's waste time to bungee smears that were inherently dangerous.
7:40:59
And you hear it constantly today.
7:41:00
Well, I don't believe the data or the DOT data is wrong.
7:41:03
We we aren't inherently dangerous.
7:41:05
We're inherently vulnerable, and and we are held accountable by the virtue of the fact that we're exposed.
7:41:09
We're not encased in steel.
7:41:11
I believe Bob Holden called Ebites devil devices, which is interesting because I didn't know you could defeat the devil with a a deep pot pothole, a piece of metal in the gutter, or by hitting a bumper at 3 miles per hour.
7:41:22
All things that could be in the could put me in the hospital.
7:41:25
There's your accountability.
7:41:27
Just 3 weeks ago, my wife and elders were struck while riding her ebike.
7:41:30
The bike is still in need of repair.
7:41:31
Our kid was in a sling for a week.
7:41:32
My wife had a suspected concussion.
7:41:34
And this bill does nothing for our safety.
7:41:36
How the heck would her having a plate have helped her?
7:41:38
To it, they were struck by a plated moped rider.
7:41:41
The plate did not convey special safe writing about powers our ability to the rider who struck us.
7:41:47
We're just grateful that it wasn't a car, like the car that killed my grandparents or the car that struck to my kids' classmates' parents last month.
7:41:55
So it's one kid's it's our kids' classmates' parents were both struck by a car last month, one of whom is still hospitalized.
7:42:05
We're just people adapting to our core car oriented streets who don't have the free time to sit in traffic or search for parking.
7:42:10
We're not the other.
7:42:11
We're your neighbors.
7:42:11
Please reject this anti safe street bill whose goal is to re reduce e bike usage altogether when we should be aggressively encouraging instead, especially with congestion pricing.
7:42:19
These just aren't for delivery guys.
7:42:20
They're for all of us.
7:42:21
They're for parents.
7:42:22
They're for the elderly.
7:42:23
I don't want my elderly mother driving an SUV.
7:42:26
I want her on a pedal assist
