Josh Gold of Uber testifies on delivery app regulations
Josh Gold says Uber supports safety regulations but opposes disproportionate liability insurance mandates and overly prescriptive tracking, and calls for stronger enforcement of existing laws.
Good morning, my name is Josh Golden.
I'm testifying today on behalf of Uber.
Uber supports regulations that make our streets safer for all New Yorkers, including delivery workers.
But too often when traffic tragedies occur, even when they have nothing to do with third-party delivery, the response is to blame this workforce.
Over the past six years, the council has passed dozens of laws regulating delivery apps.
Workers are paid by the minute, have access to battery trade-ins, free safety equipment, low-cost UL-certified e-bikes, and required safety training.
Uber alone distributed more than 8,000 helmets and 37,000 safety vests over the past 12 months.
Yet app-based delivery workers represent only a piece of e-device traffic.
City bike users take more than a million trips each week, and DCWP found that 40% of restaurants use their own delivery workers.
We need stronger enforcement of the laws already on the books, not simply more regulation of one segment of riders.
Let's be clear, none of these bills will work without enforcement.
For example, it's still too easy to purchase and operate unregistered mopeds or devices that lack UL certification.
I want to comment specifically on three of the bills before you today.
Intro 999.
We strongly oppose the proposed mandate, which we believe is disproportionate.
City Bike has operated under a city contract for more than a decade without this type of third-party liability requirement.
And the bill would require a worker riding a 60-pound bicycle to carry six times the liability coverage required of someone driving a 6,000-pound SUV.
Intro 1069.
Workers are paid for their delivery time, and Uber does not pay them more for riding faster or penalize them for taking longer if other companies do it rather than have a study and more data in perpetuity just ban the practice.
Pre-considered introduction on tracking workers.
While we agree with the underlying safety elements of this proposal, we are highly concerned that this legislation is overly prescriptive.
Specifically, it risks...
It risks taking away workers'ability to earn a living by relying on GPS tracking technology that is frequently problematic in dense parts of New York City.
Satellite signals bounce, drop, and miscalculate speeds among high-rises.
Thank you for your time and the opportunity to testify.
Thank you.
Next.