Mary Ellen Vakris testifies on pedestrian safety and accountability

Hi, my name is Mary Ellen Vakris.

I just want to say that New York used to be a great city for pedestrians.

It was a safe city to enjoy a leisurely stroll, whether in a park or on the sidewalk.

This is no longer the case.

E-vehicles have made walking hazardous for those individuals who like to walk or those who need to walk to work or to school, etc.

I cannot walk safely on the sidewalks or in the parks because there is no accountability for e-vehicle riders who consistently break the law.

E-vehicle riders often ride through red lights, go in the wrong direction on one-way streets, ride on the sidewalks, ride on pedestrian paths in our parks, and ride into crosswalks.

When are we going to hold these riders accountable for their actions?

I have had many close calls when I have almost been hit by an e-vehicle.

As a woman of a certain age, I can no longer dodge e-vehicles that commit infractions.

I just do not move that fast any longer.

Neither do the other elderly, disabled, or very young New Yorkers that walk throughout our great city.

Letting e-vehicles take over the streets is a...

and discriminatory.

One way to remedy this dangerous e-vehicle situation is to pass Priscilla's law, Intro 802, which requires licensing and registration of all e-vehicles.

The riders of these vehicles must be held accountable for their actions.

Red light cameras can catch the riders who commit infractions, and then we will begin to see riders who obey the law.

Monetary fines change behavior.

I urge the City Council members to pass Intro 802 and also Intro 377, which prohibits e-vehicles from our city parks.

Thank you.

Thank you for your testimony.

Next.