NYC Common Sense released the following statement regarding the New York City Council’s proposed e-bike safety package:
“NYC Common Sense thanks the City Council for prioritizing community safety and turning its attention to the e-bike safety crisis. However, without a comprehensive system of licensing and registration, as proposed under Priscilla’s Law, any effort to improve enforcement will certainly fall short.
“You can’t hold an anonymous rider responsible for breaking the law and endangering lives. Someone who runs a red light or rides off after a crash leaves no plate to report. Licensing and registration is a commonsense approach that other jurisdictions — most recently New Jersey — have embraced. New York City should follow suit, and fast, before the next deadly incident occurs.
“In March, the Mayor barred police from writing criminal summonses for e-bike violations, overruling his own Police Commissioner — even though crashes, injuries, and deaths had each fallen about 30 percent under her policy. Because of this, NYC Common Sense, along with nine New Yorkers, sued the Mayor in his official capacity to bring back this policy.
“Absent a licensing and registration system, criminal summonses are admittedly less effective, but they were the best tool available to hold reckless e-bike riders accountable.”