Q&A
Disparity in DOT's approach to motor vehicle vs. micromobility safety
0:51:39
ยท
3 min
Council Member Brooks-Powers highlights a perceived disparity in DOT's approach to safety for motor vehicles versus micromobility. She questions the emphasis on design for micromobility while being more punitive towards motor vehicles.
- Council member notes a difference in DOT's approach to motor vehicle safety (more punitive) vs. micromobility safety (more design-focused)
- Concerns raised about the effectiveness of enforcement for micromobility users
- Discussion of potential legislation to address micromobility safety issues
Selvena Brooks-Powers
0:51:39
Now you raise a good point in terms of how the roads are designed, and this is something I've said in the past before as well, in terms of when you talk about motor vehicles.
0:51:50
One would argue that they move the way a road is designed when you don't have, a breakup of the traffic, when you may have, like, a mile stretch with no stop sign, no traffic light.
0:52:02
However, DOT is often very punitive in how they address safety related to motor vehicles, but there's an emphasis on design for micro mobility.
0:52:16
So there's a great disparity in the agency's approach to safety for, for pedestrians and, you know, users of the road and how we're able to find a greater harmony amongst the different modes of transportation.
0:52:32
So what I'm hearing from you in terms of what the agency has done is the agency has put resources and funding in addressing the infrastructure of the roads to address this.
0:52:52
But there's no real accountability I'm hearing in terms of the the micro mobility motorists and how they are using it because how will an officer like, because we saw that the numbers in terms of the NYPD issuing these, summonses are not significantly high.
0:53:17
From what I hear from some of the local police, sometimes they can't even catch up with them.
0:53:21
Right?
0:53:22
In terms of their patrol, of their own foot patrol, for example.
0:53:27
So it is something that obviously the the committee is looking at in terms of ways to make the road safe for everyone.
0:53:35
And so love to to work with DOT, and I know we have a couple of bills that are looking at that now that we will continue to have discussions around.
0:53:46
Streets plan.
0:53:48
Local law 195 of 2019, also known as the streets plan or the transportation master plan, was passed again in October 2019, by the council.
0:54:00
And in September 2023, the committee on transportation infrastructure with the committee on oversight and investigations held an oversight hearing to receive an update on the street's plan.
0:54:12
During that hearing and regularly throughout the year, the committee has asked DOT to provide information about progress being made towards the street's plan mandates and was not provided any meaningful information.
0:54:33
So 2024 has come and gone.
0:54:35
The construction season is over, and I'd like to know how many protected bus lane miles were implemented in 2024 out of the 30 mile mandate.
0:54:48
I'd also like to say, commission, I heard you in terms of your thoughts on, my bill that's being heard today as well and not being in support of it.
0:54:59
However, the the rationale for that bill came out of one of our previous hearings where commissioner Rodriguez indicated that we only get that information because the law requires DOT to give us that annual report.
0:55:15
And if we wanted it to be more frequent, then the law would need to be changed.
0:55:21
And so that is where that bill is coming from.
0:55:24
That was through the words of commissioner Rodriguez in our hearing under oath.
0:55:30
So I'd like to understand where we are with the bus lanes.