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Over the previous decade and half, we’ve got witnessed, factually and empirically, the precipitous presence of e-bikes, moped, scooters, and different 2-wheeled battery fueled units on New York Metropolis streets.
Seniors and different susceptible pedestrians are confronted with an ever current hazard posed by these velocity restrict breaking, site visitors mild and stop-sign abusing, and one-way road ignoring autos. Chaos prevails, and on-foot sidewalk and road navigation has change into perilous.
Sadly, I skilled this road havoc first hand. On Tuesday, Might twenty first, returning by subway from an inaugural and inspirational Dept. of Schooling Jewish Heritage occasion to my Higher East Aspect condo, I exited on the 77th Road #6 practice station and walked east. Having the sunshine to cross Third Avenue, a northbound thoroughfare, I checked that oncoming site visitors was stopped on the intersection. After I stepped from the sidewalk into the road, an electrical bike, touring southbound in opposition to site visitors at excessive velocity, smashed into me.
I crumpled to the asphalt, noticed what seemed to be a supply biker for a couple of seconds earlier than he sped off, hit-and-run fashion, and peered at my proper leg which was clearly and grotesquely damaged. A superb Samaritan girl referred to as 911 and an ambulance arrived to take me to the hospital for surgical procedure to restore the tibia bone, damaged in three locations, with the everlasting insertion of a titanium rod. I spent every week within the hospital and 6 weeks in a rehab studying find out how to stroll once more. I additionally found that I misplaced some sight in my proper eye.
However I used to be the fortunate e-bike sufferer. Sure, I suffered a crushing trauma however, thank G-d, I used to be nonetheless alive and not using a extreme mind or head harm. The quantity of people that have been killed by electrical assisted two wheel autos is staggeringly excessive and dozens extra are left with debilitating accidents.
Just about a day doesn’t go by with out somebody telling me a couple of “close call” of just about being hit by one in all these reckless 2-wheeled e-vehicles. Many have thanked me for elevating consciousness by means of my unlucky and painful expertise and the way they now look each methods earlier than crossing a Metropolis road. However that defensive tactic is much from adequate to handle the issue.
So what must be performed?
We are able to readily get within the blame recreation and goal supply staff who’re rushing round city to chase a greenback and scratch out a residing. However we, as customers, are those who insatiably demand close to immediate gratification with every thing at our doorstep in an unreasonable period of time.
And who’s feeding this demand that we’ve imposed? Backside line, the enterprise mannequin rewarding velocity above all else was customary by the app corporations.
There isn’t a panacea right here. No wave of a magic wand. However finally, there must be accountability for what is occurring on our streets.
This previous week I testified at a Metropolis Council Transportation and Infrastructure Committee listening to on integrating micromobility choices. I strongly urged that the Metropolis Council discover and act on a complete method each on the company and on the particular person ranges.
For the firms which are producing the majority of the journeys on Metropolis streets, why can the Metropolis not license the app corporations like what the Taxi and Limousine Fee (TLC) has performed with For Employed Automobiles? When Uber/Lyft first got here to New York Metropolis, it added an enormous quantity of autos to the streets. The Metropolis then moved to control the trade, create requirements, information monitoring, and accountability for corporations that wish to do enterprise right here.
Why not create and implement an analogous accountability framework with the supply app corporations as they dispatch all these journeys and 2-wheel riders on metropolis streets?
For people, licensing needs to be regulated by means of the New York State DMV that already has the infrastructure and jurisdiction to problem licenses. However native New York Metropolis enforcement is essential to making sure the accountability of all e-bike riders and the altering of law-breaking conduct patterns.
Ought to the Metropolis Council enact Intro 1131 and set up a Process Power to make suggestions to the Mayor and Council Speaker for laws and coverage relating to the “increased use of electric bikes and related collisions in New York City”, there ought to completely be no delay in presenting and appearing upon their findings nicely throughout the proposed 270-day mandate.
The necessity and the crucial is now and the TLC mannequin for supply apps is a confirmed first step.
This compelling social justice problem must be addressed expeditiously, establishing accountability requirements, restoring public security to our Metropolis’s streets, and eliminating the palpable worry issue from our pedestrian inhabitants.
Rabbi Michael S. Miller is the previous longtime CEO of the Jewish Neighborhood Relations Council of New York.
