Another Self Inflicted Problem

Back in 2020 when New York City approved the use of electronic scooters and bicycles on city streets I foresaw the issues to come.

How would they be regulated? How would they be identified? Motorized vehicles used on streets are required to be registered and insured. Operators are required to be licensed. What was going to be the recourse for a victim of an accident with an e-bike or e-scooter?

Fast forward to 2024 and NYC Deputy Mayor for Operations, Meera Joshi is on TV calling for more regulation and oversight to combat the deaths and injuries now caused by these motorized vehicles.

No one saw this coming? No one was smart enough to realize putting motorized vehicles that travel over 25 mph in parks, bike lanes and sidewalks was a bad idea?

Between 2022 and the first half of 2023 forty eight people have been killed in accidents involving powered bikes and scooters. This is in addition to the 18 deaths and 150 injuries caused by the 267 fires last year involving e-bikes.

We must start holding our elected officials accountable for these self inflicted problems. Much like the current migrant problem in NYC, foresight would go a long way in preventing these issues from happening.