PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Solomon Blecher, Member of Manhattan Community Board 3, on E-bike Regulation
6:44:28
·
108 sec
Solomon Blecher, a teenage member of Manhattan Community Board 3, testifies in opposition to Intro 606, which would require e-bike licensing. He argues that while streets need to be safer, e-bike licensing is not the solution and could lead to unnecessary police stops and arrests.
- Blecher emphasizes that cars are more dangerous than e-bikes and that discouraging e-bike use could actually make streets less safe.
- He suggests alternative safety measures such as daylighting, expanded bike lanes, and other infrastructure improvements.
- The speaker notes that e-bikes replacing cars on streets can contribute to increased safety overall.
Solomon Blecher
6:44:28
Dear Transportation Committee Chair, Brooks Powers, and members of the Transportation Committee, I'm speaking in opposition to Intra 606.
6:44:38
I'm a teenager, who rides bikes around New York.
6:44:42
And during the COVID 19 pandemic, I started, riding a lot around New York City, specifically around the protected bike lanes on the East River and Hudson River.
6:44:55
I also was appointed to Manhattan Community Board 3 a year and a half ago, although I do not speak on behalf of them.
6:45:02
I agree that streets need to be safer.
6:45:04
Unstreets unsafe streets will kill people.
6:45:07
However, requiring ebike licensing does not, create safer streets.
6:45:12
It instead leads to a way that the NYPD will stop and arrest riders.
6:45:21
It doesn't actually lead to behavioral changes, as, even though e bikers, can behave in dangerous ways, this is not so so does everybody and cars are far more dangerous than e bikes.
6:45:37
They weigh far more and they are responsible for far more crashes.
6:45:42
And discouraging e bikes, which replace cars on streets, can also be bad in that way of making streets more unsafe.
6:45:51
As other people have said, before me, e bikes that replace cars create more safety because cars are more unsafe than e bikes.
6:46:04
And protecting people from e bikes can be done with daylighting expanded bike lanes, and other infrastructure.
6:46:13
Thank you.
6:46:15
I'm done.
