Comment regarding the Village Sun piece-Mayor wants to regain control of streets-below

There was never an environmental impact study done — resulting in the worst congestion in the nation. There was no genuine, sustained, cooperative effort to establish a responsible cycling community. Result::: daily danger on the streets and sidewalks — only increasing with the onslaught of other modes of menace. Vision Zero is aptly named. By opposing enforcement from the time Trans Alt had the ear of Mayor Bloomberg, Charles Komanoff and Mark Gorton, the Sophist in Chief and the Hedge fund Advocate of unpopular positions, have trafficked in zealotry and hubris. Displaying a reckless disregard for public safety and wallowing in their own self-righteous drive to surpass Robert Moses in infamy and undermine the NYPD. How the city administrations have succumbed to this bludgeoning of the quality of life is a sad comment on the priorities and humanity of our Captains of Commerce. Vision Zero has been IRRATIONAL from the jump. Although bike programs in Europe have their issues, New York’s version with different logistics of population density and street width, complemented by the egregious lack of enforcement, has created a public safety crisis. **** Lying in the weeds is PlacemakingX, Fred Kent was its co-founder along with Komanoff of Trans Alt. His son Ethan now mans the helm. This is why TA has shifted its rallying cry from cycling being good for health and pollution to needing more public space. The privatization of public space. Said to be good for shopping and real estate.

Village Sun-Mayor Adams-"We have to regain control of our streets"

Lincoln Anderson of the VS continues his formidable reporting of the public safety crisis caused by the danger on the streets and sidewalks. The mayor does not appear to be on top of the issue. https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#inbox/FMfcgzGwJSFkRTVRFqlGZfQzgDvSPgKk

The Village Sun**OP ED by Kathryn Freed vs. Congestion Pricing

Former City Councilmember and Judge Kathryn Freed makes a strong case against Congestion Pricing especially concerning the effects on the Lower East Side. NYC has the worst congestion in the nation. Blame for this clearly lies with the blind Vision Zero. No environmental impact study. Fueled by hubris and zealotry. Speciously based on health considerations that has given way to the private use of public space. Initially proposed by the sophist in Chief Charles Komanoff Vision Z imports cycling programs from Europe from cities with very different street widths and population densities. PLUS Transportation Alternatives is said to have prevailed on city adminsitrations to withhold enforcement by the NYPD. Enforcement being the backbone of accountability. Accountability being the essence of a law abiding responsible cycling culture. Screw public safety say the zealots. Screw quality of life. Irrational policy. Woeful neglect on the part of city administrators.*** https://thevillagesun.com/opinion-congestion-pricing-would-fuel-pollution-on-les

NY Daily News**28th Cycling Death-2nd most deadly year

The 28th cycling death was recently recorded. A 37 year old comedian in a solo e-bike accident. NO LAUGHING MATTER. No mention if he wore a helmet. This is the second most deadly year for cycling. Currently the e-bikes are taking the laurels.*** https://www.yahoo.com/news/brooklyn-comic-death-makes-2023-230800630.html

The Village Sun**NYC EVSA "We Are The Majority"**pursuing e-bike regulation

The Village Sun continues its formidable coverage of the efforts of advocates for public safety to corral the flagrant rogue riding of delivery agents and others riding motorized 2 & 3 wheelers.*** https://thevillagesun.com/we-are-the-majority-e-bike-safety-group-pushes-for-hearing-on-holden-licensing-bill

NYT-Rise in Car Crash Fatalities attributed to Smart Phones & USA Culture

Smart phones similarly contribute to the prevalence of the indifferent behavior of many cyclists. ESPECIALLY DELIVERY AGENTS!!! The consumers want their product handed to them and they want it FAST!! We the public pay for this narcissism by living in daily danger. Suck it up people-COOK! ********************THE SMARTPHONE*****NYT 12/11/23 Many of the potential explanations for the trend don’t seem to fit. Cars in this country are large, but they have become only slightly larger since the early 2000s. Drunken driving has not become more common, and roads have not become more dangerous. But there has been one major change in driver behavior: the use of smartphones. “Smartphones have become ubiquitous with remarkable speed, overlapping closely with the timeline of rising pedestrian deaths,” Emily, Ben and Josh write. “Apple’s iPhone was introduced in 2007. Within a few years, one-third of American adults said they owned a smartphone.” Smartphones have also become ubiquitous in other countries, of course. But American drivers seem to be addicted to their phones in ways that drivers elsewhere are not. Surveys suggest Americans spend more time on their phones while driving than people do in other countries. In part, this phenomenon may reflect this country’s culture, which emphasizes professional success and immediate gratification. It also partly reflects vehicle technology. Nearly all cars in the U.S. are automatic transmission, freeing drivers’ hands (or so they may think) to use phones. In Europe, almost 75 percent of cars still have gears that a driver must change manually. “​​The adoption of smartphones for the past 15 years — where we are today, being addicted on social media and other apps — absolutely contributes to the increase in fatalities on our roads,” Matt Fiorentino, a vice president at Cambridge Mobile Telematics, which tracks dangerous driving for carmakers, insurers and regulators, told Emily.

GRIST***Lith Battery Repair-dangerous-why mechanics do it anyway.

EV battery repair is dangerous. Here’s why mechanics want to do it anyway.

Soho Alliance alert to the City Hall rally e-bike regulation**Public safety

Sean Sweeney(SOHO ALLIANCE) invites all to support the 12/6/23 rally at City Hall "WE ARE THE MAJORITY" to support CM Holden's bill 0758/22 calling for the regulation of e-bikes.*** WHAT: Rally & Press Conference to Support Licensing of e-Bikes WHO: Victims of e-bike accidents, safety advocates, city council members and common citizens like ourselves WHEN: Wednesday, December 6 at noon (arrive by 11:45am) WHERE: City Hall, East Gate, Park Row, directly across from the Brooklyn Bridge The SoHo Alliance has been receiving calls to do something about the mushrooming growth of reckless e-bikers who flout the law, recklessly ride on bothx sidewalks and bike lanes, run red lights, and behave with general contempt for public safety. One reason for this behavior is their lack of accountability. It’s hard to ticket an offender if there is no way to identify the errant rider. Councilmember Robert Holden has introduced a bill before the City Council that would require the NYC Department of Transportation to register and issue license plates for e-vehicles. Of the 51 councilmembers, a majority, 32, have signed on. The bill would pass. However, Council Speaker Adrienne Adams is not allowing it to come for a vote. To override that decision, a 2/3rd supermajority of the council, 34 members, is required to force a vote. Opponents of this sensible legislation include lobbyists for the delivery workers and Transportation Alternatives, which absurdly contends that licensing of e-bikes will eventually lead to licensing of pedal bicycles. Accountability Changes Behavior = Lives Saved & Fewer Injuries We are the majority. Please attend. PLEASE FORWARD THIS EMAIL TO FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS. Sincerely, Sean

WBGO NEWS** NYC Worst Congestion in Nation 12/5/23

Scott Pringle reported on WBGO that New York City-Newark has the worst congestion in the nation. The average commuter by vehicle spends 236 hours yearly languishing in traffic. #2 in the cost of gasoline. #8 in fatal crashes. New Jersey is suing to stop congestion pricing. Small business owners express concern that it will hinder business and increase delivey costs which they will have to pass on. Oh but the "visionaries" know best. Ignore environmental impact studies. Establishing responsible cycling culture is a mere nuisance readily dismissed. Fatal accidents-ah mere collateral damage in pursuit of "The Vision." Quality of life? Public safety? Mere inconvenience in pursuit of "The Vision." New York has been taken for a ride. If Transportation Alternatives' intention was to rival Power Broker Robert Moses for negative influence on the life and health of the city-they have done so. In that they have succeeded.

NYC**EVSA sponsors DEC 6 23 RALLY City Hall for e-bike accountability** Village Sun

Lincoln Anderson of the Village Sun has done yeomanlike work covering the public safety crisis engendered by the lack of a responsible bike and micro transport culture. Anderson who is an enthusiastic rider himself lays out the details of the rally and what it calls for. Licensing and registration of the e-bikes. Restoration of New York as a prime walking city. https://thevillagesun.com/city-hall-rally-to-push-for-license-plates-for-all-e-bikes-and-e-vehicles

All About lithium batteries-Responsible use and disposal. **Rockland/Westchester Journal News

https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#inbox/KtbxLwgdgGWTlHbtCLfPbJtnbDglmsDhXq The dooz and don'tz of lithium battery useage and disposal.Prevent fires.

NYC Gothamist**** Landlords Insurance Risk from e-bike batteries

https://gothamist.com/news/nyc-e-bike-owners-wonder-where-to-store-them-as-landlords-fear-battery-fires