Joshua Wood, delivery worker, supports Intro 613
Joshua Wood, a delivery worker with 10 years of experience, supports Intro 613 and says delivery workers are the most efficient way to move goods, reducing car and truck trips. He calls for wider protected bike lanes, daylighting, secure parking, charging, rest areas, and accountability for reckless drivers.
Good morning, Mr.
Abreu.
My name is Joshua Wood.
I'm a delivery worker with 10 years of experience.
I am here in support of Intro 0613 because we need safer streets through better infrastructure and not more policing and enforcement.
Delivery workers are not the problem.
In my time on the road, I've delivered everything from food to pharmaceuticals to material samples to the outfits being worn at the Met Gala.
And the reason that all of these goods are delivered
by bike, e-bike, and cargo bike is because we are the most efficient way to do it.
Every item delivered via micromobility represents one fewer car, one fewer double park truck.
Residents need us.
Businesses need us.
And our streets design needs and our streets design needs to reflect those needs to accommodate the needs of us workers.
100 miles of additional bike lanes doesn't sound unreasonable compared to 80,000 delivery workers on the streets every day, spread across every neighborhood.
The approach needs to be comprehensive because our routes are not just limited to the major commuter corridors.
Our road infrastructure was designed knowing that cars, trucks, buses, taxis, they all have different needs, and the same is true for bike infrastructure.
We need the major bike lanes to be wide enough to pass to safely pull over without having to ride on the sidewalk when we have to stop at every drop-off.
We also need daylight at intersections, secure bike parking and charging stations, designated rest areas, and a means to address the most reckless drivers who put our lives at risk.
And again, that's why we're inviting you and DOT officials to meet with delivery workers and ride alongside us to see the challenges that we face firsthand.
The streets are our office, and we are grateful for a seat at the table and making them efficient for everybody.
Thank you so much for your testimony.
I appreciate your time.
This panel is excused.
Next up, we have Caitlin Villatoro, Eric Richardson.
Sandra Huambachano, Kate Cole, and David Bartner.
And can we get an extra chair, sergeants?
Should we need it for the child?
Nice.
All right, you may begin.