By Gus Saltonstall
Upper West Side New York City Councilmember Gale Brewer came out at the end of last week against a new bill that would require all electric bikes to register with the city, arguing the legislation would not lead to safer streets and pointing instead toward other ways to combat the issue.
Brewer joins a growing list of elected officials who have taken a stand against Councilmember Robert Holden’s bill, which would require every electric vehicle in New York City that is not otherwise registered with the Department of Motor Vehicles, to be registered with the Department of Transportation (DOT) and receive an identification number, which would then be displayed on the electric vehicle.
“I do not believe a blanket e-bike registration rule will make streets safer, nor is NYC DOT equipped to establish, manage, or enforce it,” Brewer tweeted on Friday.
Brewer instead pointed to four other bills she supports or sponsors that relate to electric-vehicle safety.
Here’s a look at those bills and what they would do:
- Intro 1168: The bill would require delivery app companies to provide safe e-bikes at no cost to workers to reduce the risk of dangerous battery fires.
- Intro 1163-2023: The bill would require workplace safety training and certification be provided to delivery workers and mandate that delivery app companies equip workers with bicycle safety equipment.
- S7703/A08052: The bill would require that a license from buyers for mopeds be provided at the point of sale.
- S3304/A4637: The legislation would create a system of automated bike lane safety cameras.
Holden fired back at Brewer’s stance against his bill.
“This is the response one should expect from someone who ignores constituents and is always ready to serve TransAlt’s interests,” he wrote in his own tweet. “Intro 758 is a vital step for safety & accountability, what New Yorkers support. Anyone committed to these values should unequivocally back the bill.”
Brewer’s statement on the issue came shortly after Transportation Alternatives, a nonprofit that advocates against automobiles and for biking, walking, and public transportation in the five boroughs, led a coalition of 31 safe streets, climate justice, and immigrant-rights advocate groups in writing a letter to the City Council strongly rejecting Holden’s bill to register all electric vehicles.
“Advancing legislation, like Intro 0758-2022 or other bills that seek to license and register bikes, would be ineffective, dangerous, expensive, short-sighted, and bureaucratically complicated,” the letter reads. “Moreover, it would open a door to licensing all bikes, which would be disastrous for transportation in New York City, and roll back decades of work to give New Yorkers more affordable and sustainable means of traveling across the five boroughs.”
StreetsBlog was the first publication to report on Brewer’s stance against licensing all electric vehicles.
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The people had a choice. They chose her. You can’t complain now.
They KEEP choosing her, cycle after cycle which is baffling to me.
As for the e-bikes, she must not spend much time walking around the streets or she’d whistle a different tune. For God’s sake, vote her out.
Cranky, the election is over.
Folks, if you care about the elderly, stop ordering delivery. Go to the restaurant and pick it up please.
No politician is doing anything here to help the pedestrians on the sidewalk.
Can you be the change?
Can you support our restaurants by picking up the food yourself.
Can you make the difference?
Less deliveries means less delivery bikes!
I am increasingly frustrated with Gale Brewer and voted against her. However, I think that unfortunately WSR has become something of an echo chamber and she clearly does not read it (I really wish she did). We should all channel our kvetching towards her with letters, calls, etc. I know people have commented that she is completely unresponsive, but if enough of her reach out, perhaps it will make a difference.
Her position on this issue is completely incorrect and tone deaf. How many people getting injured by these bikes will it take before she accepts a reasonable solution. Her response is along the lines of a child sticking their fingers in their ears and screaming “nah nah nah I can’t hear you!!!!”
Gale Brewer knows the issues, she’s just afraid of Transportation Alternatives since quite a few urbanist friends live on the UWS.
of course we can complain. that’s a silly statement. and who better to complain about than gale brewer. she’s been giving us reasons to complain for years and years.
Did the others have real proposals?
Di Stasio would have voted for the Holden bill. She thought the e-bike situation was a serious issue.. But the voters thought differently. They went for Brewer
Di Stasio wasn’t offering much and she laughably claimed to be fiscally responsible because she’s a republican.
And Simpson?
Many Upper West Siders love Gale Brewer.
She stands out as more competent than Helen Rosenthal.
But like H Rosenthal, she out to lunch on e-bikes, e-scooters, and also unlicensed gas powered motorcycles of various sizes. In other words, she’s like the NYPD.
What’s with the NYPD bashing? They can’t enforce laws that don’t exist, and don’t have the resources to manage the totally outsized impunity! And, because of the nature of these vehicles (roundly referred to as “the perfect getaway vehicle”), they can’t reasonably chase them down. The problem is too big. These things need to be licensed/have plates so they can be identified via traffic camera and ticketed/confiscated later.
In my opinion, the mopeds speeding and on sidewalks are the real menace, and they are already required to have license plates but NYPD isn’t doing much to enforce the laws or confiscate vehicles.
The NYPD has been spectacularly lazy regards e-bikes and small motorcycles breaking the laws, which absolute exist.
Only need to seize a few machines to make the point.
Glad to see Gale take a stand against a poorly thought out bill. Happy with my vote for her already!
Exactly right. And none of these bills matter unless enforced, which has not been a priority for NYPD [let alone DOT] that I can see.
You are incorrect. The point of the bill is to have camera enforcement. Without ID on the bike, you cannot issue tickets. Police cannot stand in front of a bike moving 30 mph. Use your noodle regarding “enforcement.”
The NYPD can stop and seize the bikes.
But that would take work.
Wouldn’t the police be needed to enforce that IDs are actually on the bikes? The NYPD is the weak link in this equation.
Wow. None of those suggested four bills has anything to do with changing rider behavior.
Intro 1163-2023: The bill would require workplace safety training and certification be provided to delivery workers and mandate that delivery app companies equip workers with bicycle safety equipment.
That’s not enough! Riders know how to ride in the streets. They need to be kept off the sidewalks! Can’t do anything without knowing who is riding the bicycle. What’s wrong with people taking resposibility!
Well if it requires any effort, let’s not register e-bikes. Embattled constituents be damned. Keeping citizens safe should be priority number one. Thanks, Brewer, for safeguarding our streets. Completely useless official.
It’s clear the city cares far more about the well being of ‘migrants’ than the safety of law abiding, tax paying US citizens.
Ugh. I voted for DiStasio, ending years of voting Democrat. I wish enough others had done the same.
Registration of e-bikes and e-scooters, with NYS real plates + insurance might help a bit, BUT ONLY with enforcement, which the NYPD isn’t doing. Anyhow that would take a state law change.
Also we know that though registration + insurance are required for gasoline powered small motorcycles (“scooters”) that the NYPD is not enforcing the laws for those machines — not traffic laws and not registration laws.
Better would be speed limiting all e-bikes and e-scooters, the ones that don’t have real license plates and insurance –Revels used to be an example of licensed/insured e-scooters–to 10MPH.
Not holding my breath for the state or City to take any real action, but Brewer does seem incredibly out of touch on this subject. It’s as if she doesn’t walk around the UWS with eyes open.
There’s much safer LFP battery technology, that should be required for all e-scooters/e-bikes.
Then, what does this mean, that buyers would have to show a real license when buying an e-moped? That’s meaningless without enforcement of the laws, and anyhow there’s no requirement that the buyer of the machine be the user/driver.
“S7703/A08052: The bill would require that a license from buyers for mopeds be provided at the point of sale.”
Couldn’t agree more. Instead of more Brewer-bashing, can we make a public demand that the NYPD enforce rules and laws that endanger pedestrians? The UWS certainly has a powerful megaphone. Our UWS electeds could make a powerful push for that in City Council. Others in NYC may be happy to join the effort. Gale, will you push this for us in City Council?
A practical question – If the electric bike/scooter doesn’t have a license plate and the operator doesn’t have a driver’s license, what would you like the NYPD to do? How would they issue a citation?
Back in September, the NYPD did crackdown on illegal scooters and confiscated a number of them (mostly in and around some of the migrant shelters). A number of advocacy groups were up in arms because taking away these modes of transportation meant that migrants would have no other means of employment. So, I don’t think we can have it both ways. In my humble opinion, City Council members are likely going to side with work opportunities rather than enforcement of “quality of life” violations.
We had the chance to make a public demand on Election Day but elected Gale Brewer again. Isn’t it obvious that we need another person who will hear us and make it happen.
Brewer, and the rest of the Council, don’t have much influence with the NYPD, which classes these infractions as “quality of life issues”.
And an electronic 10MPH speed limit would have to be state law to have any teeth.
I’m tired of hearing that Council members don’t have influence. They can exert a lot of pressure on the NYPD through City Hall.
And I couldn’t care less whether the 10MPH speed limit is controlled by State law. There’s such a thing as operating a vehicle negligently which they can enforce.
Take up non-enforcement with the mayor and the NYPD.
You’re being too logical. To politicians, you are merely beating your gums.
Does anybody really think the e-bike problem will ever be solved? The mentality of the cyclists is what stands in the way of civil behavior.
They are not “cyclists”. They are motorized bike riders
I disagree with Councilmember Gale Brewer’s stance against the bill requiring all electric bikes to register with the city. I hope she changes her mind. I don’t think the four bills she supports would help ameliorate what I believe is an extremely serious problem on our streets. As for Transportation Alternatives’ opposition to the bill because, they say, it would “open a door to licensing all bikes” well, that type of thinking sure sounds like the NRA’s extremely hollow arguments against all forms of gun control, no matter how benign.
TransAlt is very powerful and aggressive.
Like the NRA
How can Brewer be so wrong? So out of touch with reality? Who does she represent?
Gale is representing TransAlt. That’s all.
Seeing many more teenagers on Citibike – and like adults, they are completely ignoring traffic rules.
And even worse, they are bicycling after dark.
Danger to pedestrians and themselves.
Nearly hit by a group on Saturday at 5:30
She won by more than 50 percent without breaking a sweat. She knows upper west siders will not vote for a republican at levels that threaten her job, and she is part of the politburo that keeps unwanted primary challenges from other democrats away. She has no incentive to vote in any way other than the way that keeps her in the inner circle.
The Bob Holden MAGA bill to keep the streets clear for cars is completely unenforceable. NYPD won’t do it. DOT can’t. I personally would never pay attention to it. Nobody is insuring their bike. Gale is right.
What’s with the MAGA??? Just because we want people to take responsibility for their actions you try to denigrate them. You can’t expect any effort at enforcement if there are no licences.
I’d agree with Council Member Brewer that the City would not be able to enforce – that DOT has no ability or capacity.
Among other things, the City’s budget is tanking and there would be no resources to enforce.
Given the City’s budget situation, IMO it is problematic that on the issue of “open restaurants “, Council Member Brewer has maintained that City DOT can properly administer and enforce the permanent “open restaurants”-street dining
So it’s a free-for-all in NYC. Absolutely nothing is enforceable in our city. Got it. As understood by those thousands who have already fled the city. So much for quality of life issues.
The City Council keeps passing legislation that many communities have concerns about – things that impact on daily life like noise , trash etc – but the City Council insists there will be “oversight” “enforcement” etc.
But that is never true, enforcement doesn’t happen – either not possible to monitor the whole city or not enough staff to enforce or there is political disagreement or whatever.
The noise that results from restaurant-street dining is a good example.
Amplified music in parts of LES, East Village goes on all night. Literally impossible to sleep.
No way for the NYPD to enforce – so it just goes on…..
I believe the headline should read: “Gale Brewer Takes Stand Against Common Sense”
Gale and DOT are TransAlt shills. Citi Bike is owned by Lyft, and loads of bike bro “libertarians” in search of automobile monopoly is what’s behind the resistance to reasonable regulation of e-vehicles and mopeds. The ride share and delivery companies don’t want anything causing friction between themselves and their desired ends. Too bad so many NYC politicians and govt employees are such incredibly useful idiots. Also very sad only 313,000 of 4.6 million eligible NYC voters bothered to show up last week. What a stupid time to be alive.
“Moreover, it would open a door to licensing all bikes…” And then baby carriages, roller skates, kids’ wagons – where would it end? It’s a lame excuse.
I agree. That is nonsense. A motor vehicle is a motor vehicle. Whether electric or gas powered. A scooter or moped that travel at the same rate of speed as these e-bikes, require registration and insurance. Apply this thinking to automobiles and Tesla owners wouldn’t have to register their cars. I’m convinced that the powers that be haven’t agreed on a solution yet because they haven’t figured out how to get a dollar of that registration fee to drop directly into their pockets.
I’m a Democrat who voted for Di Stasio.
This is no surprise.
Me too!!
How about a gate that comes down when there is a red light like at a railroad crossing. all the bik lanes could have these
Worth trying—especially at 72nd and Broadway. A concern is some drivers will try to evade a gate by going around it on sidewalk.
Amazing idea! If the police won’t enforce traffic laws for bikes let’s make it an infrastructure solution!
I think the installation of speed bumps, like we have around elementary schools, would at least slow them down.
You can’t be serious. It would be like the toll crossing in the middle of nowhere in Blazing Saddles.
Once again Gale Brewer is untethered to reality. Delivery apps will not pay for e-bikes or safety equipment for “workers” who do not actually work for them.
The solution is to ban the delivery apps. I had no issues getting delivery of the food I wanted, when I wanted when restaurants managed the delivery (and their employees).
Gales is thinking like a 1970s bureaucrat. I’m sure there is a way to license and fund our e-bike, moped safety with technology. Remember filling out useless forms at the doctor’s office for 20 minutes. Now it’s a QR code. Get the idea Gale?
Gale – start advocating for your constituents and not delivery workers who vote in different districts.
Issue here is the legislation would effect the whole city including those delivery workers’ districts, not just the UWS.
Gale Brewer is afraid of Mark Gorton who founded open plans and has a 7.5 million dollar townhouse on the same block as the 20th precinct. I guess he got upset that she didn’t reappoint Sara Lind to CB7.
Exactly. If only people knew who and what was behind this otherwise unintelligible resistance to regulation of these godforsaken e-things/mopeds. The most special of special interests is dictating the policy, or lack thereof, here.
Lawlessness in this city abounds. What’s the point of any new laws if not enforced. What’s needed is a crackdown on scofflaws and miscreants of all kinds, including rogue e-bikers. Tired of innocent, hardworking citizens funding starry-eyed, clueless pols and bureaucrats.
At a minimum, NYPD or any agency with jurisdiction should seize the many unlicensed 2-wheeled motorized vehicles as they would do if a car didn’t have license plates. The NYC Sheriff’s department is very good at this type of operation and wouldn’t take away resources from the NYPD. That effort wouldn’t even require chasing after illegal operators – they’re parked all over the city and are easy pickings. If the operators’ behavior can’t be changed, then take away their instruments of bad behavior and destroy them.
“I do not believe a blanket e-bike registration rule will make streets safer, nor is NYC DOT equipped to establish, manage, or enforce it,” Brewer tweeted on Friday.
Blanket e-bike registration won’t make the streets less safe either so what’s the downside? It seems like her primary argument against registration is that it would discourage people from cycling if they had to go through the process. That’s a hypothetical that shouldn’t outweigh the fact that cyclists are not operating their vehicles safely now. Her proposals are meaningless.
“More cycling > public safety,” is what Gale Brewer appears to believe, or at least is what the crazies at Open Plans, Transportation Alternatives, Streetsblog, and Lyft believe. Get hip, people.
Exactly this
More tragic deaths, another fire caused by ebike batteries
https://abc7ny.com/brooklyn-fire-lithium-ion-batter-fdny-crown-heights/14053185/
Typical Gale Brewer. Telling her constituents why something can’t be done, instead of finding a way to improve living conditions for the people in the neighborhood.
Maybe not well thought out, but might be a deterrent for some and prevent a tragedy like what just happened in Crown Heights : https://gothamist.com/news/electric-scooter-battery-caused-crown-heights-fire-that-killed-3-family-members-fdny
Gail, stop all the crime, and homeless, and drugs on the UWS.
And is Brewer against gun registration, automobile registration, registration of doctors, pharmacists, etc?
If you disagree, as I do, send her an email,. district6@council.nyc.gov
Better yet, stop in to see her at 563 Columbus Ave (between 87th and 88th). Her office is open. When asked why she doesn’t act on certain matters, she often complains that only “the same people” are pushing for change. I urge you to prove to her that she faces wider disapproval in the community.
She doesn’t care — I ‘ve called and sent countless emails. Never a response.
Is the assumption that evehicles only used for delivery workers are the ones causing the problems of not following laws or following safety precautions? What about all the recreational drivers? They too break laws and create safety issues.
Sounds like Ms Brewer has succumbed to the gun lobby philosophy. The second you give in on anything , even if it makes sense, you will lose everything. Seems like her long game is protecting bike riders wants and needs any way she can. Why can’t they just follow laws and ride safely? Is that such an extreme ask? We don’t reward irresponsible pedestrians or irresponsible car drivers. Why bike lobbyists and their cult?
As a bike rider, something has to happen before more people are injured.
If they can maim or kill……they should be licensed and be required to have liability insurance!
Whatever you do, do NOT describe Transportation Alternatives as an organization that advocates for either pedestrians or public transportation. They do nothing regarding public transportation and work towards eradicating public safety and common sense legislation, such as this, for pedestrians. Trans Alt HATES pedestrians! It has been this way since reckless pedal bike riding was the number one issue 30 years ago! And here we are and they still fight any bike legislation, even that which would help pedal bike riders who have e-vehicles whacking them left and right in the bike lanes! Some legislation beat NO legislation. The bike riders will never adhere to law by themselves — if they would, we’d have NO problem. The bike lobby wants to blame apps, but the app companies are computer companies. They are never responsible for their employees. No company is, really. I find the delivery guys more accommodating and respectful and nicer than the Citi-bike yuppies who feel entitled to run red lights for recreational purposes. They are the ones who will give you the finger as they run into you in the pedestrian lane. We have sidewalk obstruction all over the place with no one doing anything about it. Gale used to be supportive of bike regulation; and now that the bikes are infinitely more dangerous, she isn’t. Not sure what that tells me, but it’s not good. Trans Alt has a LOT of dough. Someone needs to follow the money.
Sam,
Yes – in my experience it is the Citibike users who are the most menacing – proactively go through red lights, go the wrong way, ignore bike lanes and give you the finger
.
Food delivery workers are more respectful.
Right – TransAlt is not interested in public transportation, especially not buses.
One example – TransAlt pushed for Open Streets even where there are buses and thus buses are forced to detour.
Discussing this with some TransAlt acquaintances they were not interested in the issue and the plight of bus riders.
Quite incredible.
Yesterday afternoon I happened upon a policeman exiting his patrol car on Broadway and 110th and asked him to confirm for me if it was illegal for motorized vehicles to ride on sidewalks.
He said “yes, they can be given a summons”.
Why doesn’t that happen all the time, I asked.
He said “there are too many of them.”
If they started doing that they’d be called racist. Too many non citizens are delivering food using these. So she won’t push for insurance or licensing or fines. Those are for citizens only.
That is absolute rubbish. Most unlicensed mini motorbikes riding like fools are ridden by youth – Americans . Most delivery guys are on the throttle e-bikes and frankly I find them more alert to pedestrians and pedal bikers than the rest. Immigration status is not the issue – unless you lean that way
You’re not doing a good job at playing lawyer. It doesn’t work that way.
Actually that’s how it works. I’m not playing lawyer. This is the political reality in NYC.
Gail is a genius!
Motorized vehicles of any kind should be banned from bike lanes. You want to make a difference? Stop using Door Dash et al.
This is the first time I did not vote for Gale, and I’m glad I didn’t. She is taking a foolish and wrong-headed approach. In fact, to say that “DOT is “not equipped to establish, manage or enforce it” is absurd. Most absurd is that it would not be DOT that enforces it; it is would be the NYPD through ticketing and cameras. And that is one of the main points of Holden’s bill.
I knew that Gale was pro-bike, but I didn’t realize the degree to which the bike lobby had literally “bought” her. Sad.
I supported her for over three decades, because she was on the correct side of the issues I believed in. She has now lost my support (as if she cares), and I will never vote for her again for anything, including dogcatcher.
Holden’s bill will pass in spite of Gale Brewer. I also voted for DeStasio because Gale is controlled by Trans Alt and not doing the right thing. It’s just plain common sense to want to have safety for all New Yorkers abd not just a select few who fund money into campaigns!
I can’t stand the bashing of the NYPD. If you all would go to a Community Precinct Meeting even just once, then you would know they discuss this EVERY SINGLE MONTH. They have been confiscating illegal motorized vehicles and writing more summonses than every other neighborhood. At least in the 24th precinct. What you want is for them to be able to track someone breaking the law and that NEEDS LICENSE PLATES and REGISTRATION. Gale Brewer doesn’t support it. Something she said before the election and now directly right after, more publicly. Stop blaming the police.
Go to the Community Precinct meeting tomorrow at the library on 100th street across from the 24th Precinct and you’ll hear directly how much they are doing and you can ask your questions. It’s Wed, 11/15 at 7pm.
NYPD doesn’t need license plates and registration to pull over or stop or ticket or confiscate a motorized bike that lack a license plate. The lack of plate is a reason to take action.
How many do you think they can chase after safely?
It’s the security cameras that will get the license info and have a photo of proof. Then they can give summonses and as tickets accumulate they can confiscate the motorized vehicle. That’s the long term solution. No registration, no progress which is where we are now with people being injured permanently or killed.
Regardless of whether one thinks her position is right or wrong she had to know that a lot of her constituents are sick of the e-bike situation and she had to have had a position in her mind before election day. Yet she knowingly kept her mouth shut until after the votes were counted. What a joke on all of us.
JB
I’ve lived on the UWS for 45 years and voted for Gale many times. But I didn’t this time. I think Gale now sees more opportunity for herself by supporting wealthy lobbies and real estate people than she does in prioritizing her own community. Transportation Alternative is a lobby-pure and simple that she’s just praised. Their goals are to promote food delivery apps, car share apps and bike share apps. The hedge fund behind TA is invested in all of them. And they in turn contribute lots of money to Trans Alt who contribute lots of money to city pols.
The goal is to rid New York of private cars and have only cars for hire like Lyft and Uber and those like them. A complete windfall for car share! They’re not as they say so concerned about the environment or human injury as they appear to support doubling the number of Lyft and Uber cars in NY! Part of that objective is also putting bike lanes and Citibike kiosks everywhere they can which is removing thousands of parking spaces that those who must have a car depend on. And there are very few parking garages left as they’ve been bought by big real estate for high end condos.
Along with that they expressly DO NOT want e-vehicles licensed, registered or insured. They think this will cut down on the numbers of riders which cuts down on profits in food delivery and in bike share. Imagine if car companies did this. I mean why license drivers and register and insure cars? Doesn’t that cut down on the number of cars sold? How would that be for lawlessness? Apparently these folks see no comparison between the regulation of cars and the regulation of electric bikes that go 30 or 40 mph. This apparently isn’t a vehicle that injures and kills people despite the fact that they have injured hundreds, killed a number and put our community in peril.
Bottom line is when your elected officials don’t care about the safety and security of their constituents very clearly expressed over and over again to them, you shouldn’t be voting for them. Period.
I live in Brewer’s district and disagree with her vehemently on this issue. All bikes should be registered and licensed. Her emphasis on training for delivery workers ignores all other riders. As a senior in her neighborhood, I see many more traffic laws broken by regular riders. Delivery workers are diligent about obeying the laws, knowing that having an accident or being stopped for a violation could cost them their livelihood, or perhaps get them deported.
Deported? In NYC? Not happening
Safer streets for all ..who wouldn’t want that?
I guess Gale Brewer wouldn’t!
Does anybody have the actual number of bike collision incidents citywide? It seems like the UWS has a lot of advocacy on this issue but the regulations would be applied citywide, and it seems like other areas of the city are aware that license plates don’t protect pedestrians citywide from car accidents. But maybe people don’t get hit by cars on Amsterdam Ave.
Gale is transparent; she ADMITS that she simply adopted the view of the lobbying group that bought her, and ignored the overwhelming opinion of her constituents
On the issue of NYPD ability to “enforce”
There needs to be acknowledgement that the NYPD is not really permitted to “enforce” certain activities nor does the NYPD have staff or time to monitor “lower level” infractions.
BTW on Monday afternoon, two men punched an NYPD officer at a Bronx subway station after the officer and his partner asked the men to stop smoking.
Noteworthy that two people would feel free to punch a police officer who asked them to put out a cigarette.
The NYPD is absolutely permitted to enforce traffic laws.
And also, arrest those who punch police officers on the subway.
I would LOVE to see a legal requirement that ALL adult bikes (electric or not) be licensed at a low cost.
If Transportation Alternatives considers the rights of pedestrians as they claim, this is a no brainer. How can a low cost ($5) license be so damaging when it allows a pedestrian who’s knocked over onto the pavement or Sidewalk a recourse as any hit and run ?
I’m surprised at Council Member Brewer’s stance on this. Safety cameras would be helpful but expensive. A $5 license generates revenue.
For anyone interested in public safety and e-vehicle issues, please join NYC EVSA (E-Vehicle Safety Alliance). We’re grassroots, but already making significant progress toward getting these things regulated at both the city and state levels. PLEASE CHECK NYC EVSA OUT AND GET INVOLVED!
Good for her. Cyclists don’t kill people, and inventing barriers to cycling is just a way to maintain car dominance of our public streets that we all pay for. Meanwhile, cars killed 112 New Yorkers just in the first six months of *this* year.
Non-driver here…..on a daily basis pedestrians almost get hit by “regular” cyclists like Citibike and racing bicyclists going through red lights, the wrong way.
Family, friends and neighbors have been hit by bicyclists including people on bicycles hit by other bicyclists.
Yes vehicles more dangerous but most drivers follow the rules – whereas almost no NYC bicyclists follow any rules.
And in Manhattan, most vehicles are commercial like Uber, ecommerce, construction, etc.
Bus and subway should be utilized – not bicycles
Ulrika,
Cyclists do injure and kill – of course not intentionally.
A bicycle hit to an older person can cause a fall – and broken hip with no recovery.
Happened to a neighbor.
It is possible to be injured or killed by a cyclist: but very, very unlikely. If we want to keep a lot of people safe we need to curb car use, not bike use.
As GenZ would say, this is a big L from Gale Brewer. Common sense would say yes to registration. More accountability is always better than less.
Ban e-bikes in the five boroughs. Foot-powered bicycles worked like a charm for 150+ years.
Interesting that she chose to disclose her stance immediately after election day.
Registering all e-bikes will make the streets safer…too bad Gale won’t speak the truth…that the city can’t effectively monitor.