OPINION: E-Bike Licensing Would Harm Workers — and Absolve App Companies | Laptop News

For a significant portion of New Yorkers, the streets are, quite simply, our workplace. For us, the safety of our streets is something we care deeply about — and we have grave concerns that our elected leaders are about to put us in even more harm’s way in the name of street safety,

Several recently introduced bills would force workers to register our individual e-bikes and obtain insurance and inspections for them. As members of a collective representing New York City’s nearly 65,000 app delivery workers, my fellow deliveristas and I were deeply disappointed to see local and state leaders introduce legislation to force delivery workers to shoulder the burden of e-bike regulation — rather than trying to regulate the app companies that profit from the proliferation of unregulated e-micromobility devices.

Make no mistake, our e-bikes are the engines that fuel the growth machine of app delivery companies. But because we are classified as independent contractors, we have to buy those devices ourselves. If these proposals pass, we’ll also have to register them and be responsible for maintaining them — adding to the personal costs that imperil many of us who struggle to make a living in this precarious industry.

These bills will also unfairly target delivery workers, as most ticketing laws of this kind disproportionately target non-white residents of the city and we are a largely non-white, immigrant workforce.

Unfortunately, too many politicians fail to take a comprehensive view of public safety when considering such bills. They do not consult and empower the city’s predominantly Black, brown and immigrant workforce to play an active role in the policy making most central to us and to consider its potential consequences.

Regulating e-bikes is…

… read more nyc.streetsblog.org

FTC: We use income earning affiliate links. More on Sposored links.
Terms of use and third-party services. More here.

Advertisement Amazon

Related Posts

Apple takes over image editing app Pixelmator | Laptop News

Microsoft confirms issues in Windows 10 KB5045594, KB5044273 (mandatory update) | Laptop News

This app helped me discover hidden gems and explore the great outdoors | Laptop News

Windows 11 reaches 35% market share, and 52% of gamers adore the new OS | Laptop News

Why are open source apps usually ugly? | Laptop News

We tried Windows 11 LTSC. It comes with your classic apps, no AI or modern UI | Laptop News

New safety feature for Epic Pass App | Laptop News

Windows 11 Copilot+ PCs are 5x faster than popular 5 year old PCs | Laptop News

Here’s Why UpNote Is the Best | Laptop News

Microsoft is building a new Outlook People app for Windows 11 (Microsoft 365 Companion?) | Laptop News

Ditch Windows 10 for Windows 11 for better speed, efficiency, and AI | Laptop News

Apple set to acquire image editing apps Pixelmator and Photomator | Laptop News

Windows 11 24H2 issue causes File Explorer menu to appear outside the screen | Laptop News

Promptfoo: An AI Tool For Testing, Evaluating and Red-Teaming LLM apps | Laptop News

After ChatGPT, Claude AI’s Windows 11 app is another Chrome-based Electron wrapper | Laptop News

Tips, apps to help you save on early Black Friday sales | Laptop News

Windows 11 KB5045889 tests modern UI for security, hides taskbar bell icon | Laptop News

6 apps that permanently live within my iPhone’s Control Center | Laptop News

How to create Private Space for your apps on Pixel | Laptop News

Samsung Electronics Showcases Massive Outdoor LED Signage at Shinsegae Department Store, Ushering in a New Seoul Landmark – Samsung Global Newsroom | Laptop News