Chair Abreu asks about Parks Department pilot program for e-bikes
Abreu asks about the Parks Department pilot allowing e-bikes on park drives, and DOT says they work with Parks and NYPD but defers to Parks on the pilot's future.
Now my next set of questions are actually
Since I have you now, Commissioner Flynn, and then I'll go to DCWP, and then I'll be hopefully done soon.
In June 2023, the Parks Department launched a pilot program to allow the use of street legal e-bikes and e-scooters on park drives and greenways, which is expected to end on December 31, 2026.
While the Parks Department isn't one of the agencies represented here today, DOT and NYPD both play a role in the regulation of and enforcement against the operation of micromobility devices on park drives and greenways.
And so I have a few questions about the pilot program that I'm hoping you can provide some insights on.
To start, can you please describe how DOT and NYPD works with the Parks Department to enforce the laws governing the operation of micro mobility devices in parks and greenways, including with respect to the ongoing pilot?
Thank you, Chair.
We work closely with the Parks Department and obviously with our colleagues at the NYPD to assess any sort of bike network.
Park drives are an important piece of the bike network citywide in terms of where people have a safe place to bike.
That in particular includes...
Folks who are less skilled, newer bikers, children, and more casual riders can often find more safety where there's no risk of cars.
We obviously have looked at the potential situations both in the collisions that have been mentioned today in the parks as well as in the past
and on park drives and work closely with the Parks Department and NYPD to assess if there are interventions needed, be they design or from NYPD site enforcement.
I'll pass to my colleagues at MIPD if they'd like to add anything else.
As I mentioned, the pilot program is currently scheduled to end on December 31st, 2026.
Can you please confirm whether that is still the plan?
I'd have to defer to my colleagues at Parks.
I know I'm aware of the pilot program.
I'm aware of that date.
I have to assume it's being actively looked at, but I honestly can't speak to that today.
Are you aware of whether extending the durations on the table, or is there anything else the administration is considering with respect to this effort?
Yeah, I can't.
I'm not.
That's not our...
So it's a parks-related question.
Is that your position?