New York City Parks Commissioner announced its pilot program allowing e-bikes and e-scooters on park drives and greenways beginning June 20 until May 21, 2024. This announcement sparked many concerns since the piloted rental e-scooters and e-bikes on Pelham Parkway has caused significant risks and complaints. From these rental e-scooters and e-bikes left lying on the ground as trip hazards and eye sores to underage use, reckless driving and even criminal use. Almost two years ago, NYC Parks permitted these shared e-scooter and e-bikes on our Pelham Parkway Greenway, which opened up Pandora’s box.
It negligently allowed non-car vehicles (motorcycles, mopeds, etc.) illegally on our pathway used by residents and visitors of all ages. These vehicles have caused many residents and visitors to avoid walking the pathway out of safety concerns, which deprives them of utilizing the landscape as their daily exercise. Many residents also complained that these vehicles are used by thieves to steal their jewelry, bags and phones as they drive alongside pedestrians on sidewalks and the greenway. There have also been reported and unreported accidents on our sidewalks and greenway between pedestrians and these vehicles.
The rental e-scooters and e-bikes legally allowed on our greenway and now extended to privately owned e-scooters and e-bikes aren’t any safer than the non-car vehicles not legally permitted on our greenway. We have children under 18 years old driving them and endangering their safety as well as the safety of those around them. They use their parents or other adults’ IDs and credit cards that unlock the rentals. Many of them drive recklessly with no regard or knowledge of pedestrian’s right of way. Many privately owned e-scooters and e-bikes can travel over 30 mph.
Many residents have complained to elected officials, the NYC Department of Transportation (DOT) and NYC Parks. DOT states the NYPD and Parks Enforcement Patrol (PEP) are responsible to enforce Parks rules. PEP is woefully understaffed and/or unavailable since they are allocated to other critical services. The NYPD, when not addressing rising violent crimes, states they can’t summons these e-scooters/e-bikes since they have no license plates, and the drivers usually don’t have a driver license. NYPD also stated they are not permitted to chase after these e-mobility devices due to liability. Therefore the insufficient PEP and the police’s inability to enforce the issue has put the public in harm’s way.
On June 18, a 6-year-old child is in critical condition after a hit and run scooter driver struck the child in a Manhattan Park. Sadly, this isn’t the first nor will it be the last incident if NYC Parks proceeds with its announced plan to permit e-bikes and e-scooters in parks and greenways. For those who point out that cars kill more people, cars are not permitted on our sidewalks nor on our parks and greenways. Pedestrians face dangers while crossing roads and streets and now face similar dangers walking on our sidewalks and even in our parks and greenways.
Not sure how NYC Parks can implement rules without a public hearing as required by the City Administrative Procedure Act, unless it’s because it is a pilot program. The public can learn more as well as share input on the Parks E-Bikes and E-Scooters Pre-Pilot Survey. Also, sign our petition for NYC Parks to use the allocated funding to fix all the potholes and sinkholes on our Pelham Parkway pathway. Walking and cycling is safer, greener and healthier than these electric vehicles that belong on the streets with cars.
Roxanne Delgado is the founder of the Friends of Pelham Parkway.
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