CITY HALL (PIX11) -- You see it all the time all around the city-- e-bike riders, often on their phones moving in and out of traffic, some barreling by pedestrians.
Now there is a new push at the City Council level to register these e-bikes.
Friends and family clutched pictures of Priscilla Loke as they stood on the steps of City Hall.
Loke was killed by an e-bike running a red light in Chinatown last fall and her loved ones now support the of registering all bikes, scooters and other vehicles with an electric motors... Under what would be known as Priscilla's law.
Supporters of the bill also highlight not just the concerns for pedestrians but also recent troubles with e-bike battery fires and crime.
Councilman Bob Holden of Queens is the lead sponsor of the bill.
"It's about safety folks," Holden said. "You can't cross the street in New York City without looking 10 different ways."
A number of transit advocacy groups have come out against the measure-- with Transportation Alternatives saying it would be an unnecessary burden to bikers, a distraction from building out proper bike line infrastructure, and expressing concerns there would be racial profiling if the measure is policed.
Despite having 31 co-sponsors there's yet to be a hearing.
"We are the build that has the most co-sponsors who has not had a hearing, now that's a disgrace," Holden said.
A Council spokesperson said the Speaker's Office does not comment on bills going through the legislative process.
English (US) ·