Chair Abreu recounts death of Gabriel Nakato and rise in e-bike collisions
Abreu tells the story of 17-year-old Gabriel Nakato, killed by an illegal high-speed e-bike sold as safe and legal, and notes e-bike collisions are up 31.7% this year.
To begin, I want to return to the days before we announced this hearing.
A 17-year-old man, Gabriel Nakato, was on his way to work one morning on an e-bike that his uncle purchased for him.
His family had been told by the seller that the machine was safe and legal.
Neither were true.
The company, which encouraged riders to, quote, feel the rush, sold a bike that was faster and
and more powerful than permitted on our streets.
Gabriel died just outside City Hall.
E-bike collisions are up 31.7% this year over last year.
E-bike technology has expanded in remarkable ways, expanding how New Yorkers commute, transforming our food delivery landscape, and providing new recreational opportunities.
But our infrastructure and our policy has not kept up, and there has been a deadly cost.