PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Paul Mondeser on E-bike and Micromobility Regulation
3:09:34
·
140 sec
Paul Mondeser, a Bronx native living in Brooklyn, provided testimony on the proposed legislation regarding e-bikes and micromobility devices. He shared his unique perspective as both an avid bike rider and a car enthusiast, while also discussing his experience working with Lime and lobbying for e-bike and e-scooter legalization.
- Mondeser expressed support for Intro 1131 over Intro 606, emphasizing that the real issue is rider behavior and proper enforcement.
- He argued that the focus on regulating micromobility devices is disproportionate compared to the higher number of deaths and injuries caused by cars and larger vehicles.
- Mondeser highlighted the challenges faced by delivery workers (deliveristas) and called for common sense legislation to address shared street issues.
Paul Mondeser
3:09:34
Thank you, madam chair.
3:09:35
And to the elected officials that are here, my name is Paul Mondeser, and I am a Bronx boy living in downtown Brooklyn.
3:09:42
I'm something of a unicorn because I'm a bike rider with 10,000 miles on Citi Bike alone, double that on my own bike, but I'm also a car guy that grew up reading road and track and car and driver.
3:09:53
I was the first local hire and served as community relations lead for Lime during their original pilot program in New York City and was part of the team that lobbied to get local and state legislation passed legalizing ebikes and e scooters in New York State.
3:10:08
The intent and intro of intro 606 is laudable, and the concept is worthy of consideration.
3:10:15
Yet the DOT already has classified a broad range of micro mobility devices, and many of them are legal to operate in New York City right now.
3:10:24
Intro 1131 is better in my opinion.
3:10:28
The real problem is rider behavior and proper enforcement, and that is why we are here today.
3:10:35
The argument is often presented that micro mobility is bad and needs greater regulation.
3:10:40
Macronobility, meaning cars, vans, SUVs, and trucks, are just fine, but that math is not mathing, as the young people say.
3:10:49
The number of deaths and injuries caused by the latter is exponentially higher.
3:10:54
We've just gotten used to the accommodating cars and accepting tragedies as a cost of doing business.
3:11:00
We talk about these ebikes and e scooters as if they operate autonomously without people riding them, and this is a major problem.
3:11:07
What we really have is a human parade excuse me, human behavior problems.
3:11:12
We order everything online, so Amazon, Grubhub, DoorDash, and all of these folks have delivery goods and services on our shared streets.
3:11:22
Deliveristas risk their lives trying to meet the demands of these companies and who incentivize speed over all else because time is money.
3:11:31
Self preservation is real.
3:11:33
Deliveristas often ride in bike lanes and on sidewalks because cars and trucks are far more dangerous to them than pedestrians.
3:11:40
In closing, we need some common language and common sense to guide legislation related to the common ground of our shared streets.
Sook Ling Lai
3:11:49
Thank you.
Paul Mondeser
3:11:51
I will submit my
Selvena N. Brooks-Powers
3:11:52
Perfect.
3:11:52
Thank you so much.
Paul Mondeser
3:11:54
Thank you.
