Abu Wakaaki testifies against police enforcement and confiscation
Abu Wakaaki, a delivery worker, opposes bills that increase police enforcement and bike confiscation, and calls for more protected bike lanes and safer infrastructure.
Good afternoon.
My name is Abu Wakaaki.
And thank you for the opportunity to speak today.
I am concerned that those bills do not enough to protect delivery workers.
I want to speak from my own experience as a delivery worker, and I oppose Intro 2361, Intro 2587, and Intro 986.
We are not criminal.
We are workers supporting our families.
More police enforcement and bike confiscation will not make our streets safer.
We cannot leave worker livelihood in hand of the app that creates many of those problems.
My request to the City Council is also specific.
Invest more in protecting bike lanes.
and create double direction bike lane where possible.
For example, the bike infrastructure on Lafayette Street in Manhattan from 17th Street near Park Avenue South to Kenmore Street give delivery workers a safer way to travel.
When streets do not have safe bike infrastructure, workers can be forced to ride in dangerous traffic, go to the wrong way, or use the sidewalk just to complete a delivery.
Some traffic lights like those on Terra Avenue are designed in a way that works well for bike riders.
If you ride around 15 miles per hour, you can travel several blocks without constantly stopping at every traffic light.
That pressure can encourage some riders to take risks, such as going through a red light, riding on the sidewalk, or riding against traffic.
We've also seen deadly crashes on some of New York's busiest streets.
On March 19, 2026, two food delivery workers on e-bike were struck on West 125th Street.
One worker died and the other was critically injured.
On September 28, 2026, a delivery worker on a knee bike was killed on West 34th Street after being struck by a dump truck.
And on September 18, 2026, at X14 Street and 1st Avenue, a commercial truck struck a bicycle carrying two teenage girls.
One 50-year-old girl died and the other was injured.
Those streets are too dangerous.
Thank you so much.
No, I appreciate you.
Thank you very much.
Next.