Hanks asks DCWP about electric-assist complaints and safety
Hanks asks whether DCWP receives consumer complaints about electric-assist pedicabs. Ortiz says those complaints go to NYPD, and he defers to DOT and NYPD on safety, noting concerns about identifying vehicles and speed but also workers' need for assistance.
Thank you.
I appreciate that.
I think that we'll have to dig into that offline.
But back to a question for you.
Do you receive a lot of consumer complaints about pedicabs with electric assist?
The agency does not receive those complaints.
I believe they would go directly to the police department.
Got it.
So maybe we should have public safety here as well.
Do you think it's appropriate for pedicabs to use electric pedal assist?
No, I think I'm speaking with my colleagues at DOT and NYPD, who I think we would defer to on kind of the street safety aspects of this policy.
I know DOT has concerns about allowing more electric vehicles on the streets if enforcement is still an issue.
I know PD has a concern with identifying vehicles, make sure they're going the right speed.
But that said, we also have a lot of businesses and workers that are trying to make a living out there, and the vehicles would help them do that.
So I think there's a balance there where we should hear both sides of that.
But I could see how it's difficult to move into that space until we have greater compliance happening in the industry overall.