Today, March 9th, 2016, Majority Leader Jimmy Van Bramer and Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez, Chair of Committee on Transportation, introduced a bill to ensure that all businesses that employ commercial cyclists follow the same regulations to ensure people who make deliveries by bike.
The bill expands upon Majority Leader Van Bramer’s Local Law 52 of 2012. Local Law 52 was part of a package of bills which require that businesses that employ commercial cyclists must provide their cyclist with a bell, reflective vests, reflectors for bike wheels, and a bike helmet. Companies must also give cyclists a sign identifying the business they work for and a cyclist ID card. The businesses must also maintain a roster of commercial cyclists and provide information in the workplace about safe cycling.
Under current laws governing commercial cyclists, only businesses that work with commercial cyclists as employees are required to follow these rules. The new bill closes the loophole so that companies such as Amazon.com, UberEATs, and Seamless, who employ commercial cyclists as independent contractors, must also conform to the law. The bill also requires that all businesses who employ commercial cyclists conduct a safety training, which companies that employ independent contractors, such as Amazon and UberEATS, are not currently required to do.
“It shouldn’t matter if a commercial cyclist is working for a mom-and-pop pizza parlor or UberEATS—both types of businesses must follow the same laws to keep cyclists and pedestrians safe,” said Majority Leader Jimmy Van Bramer. “Working as an independent contractor shouldn’t mean working in unsafe conditions. My bill guarantees all commercial cyclists the same safety protections, such as helmets and reflective vests, and requires that all businesses follow the rules.”
“This bill brings common sense safety parity for anyone riding a bike to make deliveries,” said Transportation Committee Chair Ydanis Rodriguez. “If a business is employing cyclists in New York City, they should adequately provide for the safety of these often vulnerable workers. I am proud to co-sponsor this bill with my colleague Majority Leader Van Bramer as the safety of our city’s workforce will be made stronger with its passage, as well as the safety of all who use our streets.”
“In my district it’s very common to see delivery cyclists riding the wrong way on a oneway street or even on a sidewalk,” said Council Member Helen Rosenthal. “Riding the wrong way endangers pedestrians, especially seniors, who have limited visibility and slower reaction times. Companies like Seamless, who contract with businesses, should not be exempt from regulatory laws because of a technicality. These companies and their employees will now equally be held accountable, as New Yorkers will be able to file a complaint against businesses whose delivery cyclists break traffic safety laws. I thank Council Member Van Bramer for his leadership on this law that will bring us one step closer to safer streets.”
“Delivery bikes must be identified according to the businesses they work for,” said Council Member Ben Kallos. “This legislation closes a loophole that allowed large companies to avoid identifying their delivery bikes and mandates commercial cyclists to wear the required safety equipment. I thank Majority Leader Jimmy Van Bramer for his leadership and partnership on the issue of bike safety.”
Council Members Helen Rosenthal and Ben Kallos have also signed on as co-sponsors. Majority Leader Van Bramer and Council Member Rodriguez also today introduced a bill codifying the Vision Zero View map, which is produced by the DOT to release data on injuries, serious injuries, and fatalities as the result of traffic crashes. The bill also requires DOT to display online the posted speed limit on each street in the city, information that is not currently publicly available.
###
