PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Rabbi Michael Miller, Member of the Public, on E-Bike Safety Concerns
2:12:17
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166 sec
Rabbi Michael Miller testifies about his personal experience as a victim of an e-bike accident, highlighting the dangers posed by reckless e-bike riders to pedestrians. He calls for comprehensive measures to address the issue, including licensing of app companies and increased enforcement.
- Describes being hit by an e-bike traveling against traffic, resulting in a broken leg and partial vision loss
- Suggests creating an accountability framework for delivery companies similar to the Taxi and Limousine Commission's regulation of for-hire vehicles
- Emphasizes the need for local enforcement to alter law-breaking behavior patterns of e-bike riders
Rabbi Michael Miller
2:12:17
Thank you, Chair Brooks Powers, and the committee and council members.
2:12:21
As I laid out in my December 1st daily news op ed, seniors and other vulnerable pedestrians are confronted with an ever present danger posed by speed limit breaking, traffic light and stoplight abusing, one way ignoring 2 wheeled electric vehicles.
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Chaos prevails and on foot sidewalk and street navigation has become perilous.
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Unfortunately, I experienced this street havoc firsthand.
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On Tuesday, May 21st, when returning by subway to my Manhattan apartment, I exited the 77th Street subway station and walked east having the light across third Avenue, a northbound thoroughfare.
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I checked that oncoming traffic was stopped at the intersection.
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When I stepped from the sidewalk into the street, an electric bike traveling southbound against traffic at high speed smashed into me.
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I crumpled to the asphalt, saw what appeared to be a delivery biker for a few seconds before he sped off a hit and run, and peered at my right leg, which was clearly and grotesquely broken.
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An ambulance, took me to the hospital for surgery to repair the tibia bone broken in 3 places with a permanent insertion of a titanium rod.
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I spent a week in the hospital and 6 weeks in rehab learning how to walk again.
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I also discovered that I lost some sight in my right eye.
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But I was a lucky e bike victim.
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I'm alive without a severe brain or head injury.
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We can readily get into the blame game and target delivery workers who are speeding around
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2:13:50
town to scratch out a living.
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But we,
Rabbi Michael Miller
2:13:50
as consumers, are the ones insatiably, who have the insatiable demand of a near instant gratification with everything at our doorstep in an unreasonable amount of time.
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Feeding this, demand, rewarding speed above all else are the delivery app companies.
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There's no panacea here.
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But ultimately, there needs to be accountability of what's happening on our streets.
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And I suggest the city council explore and act on a comprehensive approach.
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That approach should include the licensing of app companies like what the Taxi and Limousine Commission, did with for hire vehicles, regulating the industry to create standards, data tracking, and accountability for companies that want to do business here.
2:14:32
Why not create and implement a similarly accountable framework with delivery companies as they dispatch all these trips and riders on city streets?
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Overrushingly, local enforcement is key to ensuring the accountability of all e bike riders and the altering of law breaking behavior patterns.
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I urge the committee and the council to act expeditiously on this compelling issue, establishing accountability standards, restoring public safety to our city streets, and eliminating the fear factor from our pedestrian population.
Selvena N. Brooks-Powers
2:15:02
Thank you.
Rabbi Michael Miller
2:15:02
Thank you.
