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Council member raises concerns about criminalizing bicyclists
1:28:40
·
171 sec
Council Member Diana Ayala expresses concerns about the new policy criminalizing bicyclists and its potential impact on immigrant workers.
- Ayala points out the disparity between consequences for drivers and bicyclists.
- She highlights the unprecedented nature of criminalizing bicyclists and the potential for deportation of immigrant delivery workers.
- Commissioner Rodriguez responds by acknowledging the need for balance and education.
- The discussion touches on the importance of addressing community concerns about reckless e-bike use while also protecting immigrant workers.
Diana Ayala
1:28:40
Which is significantly higher than those that occurred because of a bicyclist, right.
1:28:46
And so my point is I feel there has to be some level of parity.
1:28:51
I'm not saying that folks shouldn't drive responsibly whether they're driving a bike, whether they're using an e bike, whether they're traveling by vehicle, but the idea of criminalizing bicyclists in this way is unprecedented and it makes absolutely no sense because as a driver if I'm driving and I run the light, I'm gonna get a ticket, I'm gonna get a summons.
1:29:15
Criminalizing has a different you know consequence, right, specifically because most e bike drivers are migrants that are driving you know to and from work right, that making deliveries and in this climate we know that you know folks that are being charged with you know misdemeanors are being deported because of that.
1:29:39
And so I'm just greatly concerned about the impact of that this new rule will have and you know hoping that you know maybe there could be some suggestions made right by your office to the NYPD and better coordination to try to figure out alternative routes towards enforcement that don't lead to criminalizing folks in this way.
Ydanis Rodriguez
1:30:04
Yeah.
1:30:05
As an immigrant myself, that my second job was doing sandwiches at 55.
1:30:12
From way after putting myself through college and being an activist and then being a teacher for fifteen year, a council member for twelve, now a commissioner for four years, I always be a voice for immigrants in our city.
1:30:24
At
1:30:25
same time, we also want to, you know, understand how important it is for anyone who are using our street in any motor transportation, please look for pedestrians, especially children and senior citizen as your family members.
1:30:45
I think that, you know, I was with Gabriel and the Open Visay in a town hall meeting with the mayor.
1:30:51
And I was surprised to hear so many people from the Upper West Side talking about how some people using e bike, they're out of control.
1:31:01
So we all know, we hear that in our office.
1:31:05
So definitely we had to address it.
1:31:07
And that's why our campaign on Get Smart Before You Start.
1:31:11
One is looking for those who are using a bike to continue using it.
1:31:15
But also understanding that they had to look for pedestrians.
1:31:19
That it's not legal to ride a bike in the sidewalk.
1:31:22
But more than happy to continue conversation with the NYPD.
1:31:25
But again, we do most of the work with education piece.
1:31:28
When it came to the enforcement, the NYPD lead that effort.
Rick Rodriguez
1:30:25
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