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NORTH AMERICAN Newsline MARCH 08, 2024 | The Indian Eye 23

NYC MAYOR ANNOUNCES ACTIVATION

OF CITY’S FIRST PUBLIC E-BIKE CHARGING

SITE FOR DELIVERY WORKERS

Effort Part of Administration’s “Charge Safe, Ride Safe” Plan to Support Safe E-Bike

Use, Prevent Deadly Lithium-Ion Battery Fires

OUR BUREAU tinuous feedback about their experi-
ence with the charging technologies
NEW YORK, NY
and hubs. Interested workers can fill
ew York City Mayor Eric out an Expression of Interest form or
Adams, New York City De- attend an onboarding event, includ-
Npartment of Transportation ing at Cooper Square on March 7,
(DOT) Commissioner Ydanis Ro- 2024 from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM and
driguez, and New York City Eco- at the Brooklyn Army Terminal on
nomic Development Corporation March 8, 2024 from 2:00 PM to 5:00
(NYCEDC) President and CEO PM.
Andrew Kimball today activated the “We’re excited about the launch
first of five public e-battery charging of the city’s first e-battery charging
locations as part of the city’s new six- hub that will provide our delivery
month pilot program to test safe, pub- workers with places for safe charging,”
lic charging of lithium-ion batteries by said Ken Podziba, CEO, Bike New
an initial group of 100 delivery work- York. “Many of the risks associated
ers. The first charging site is being with dangerous lithium-ion batteries
located in Cooper Square in Manhat- are preventable and offering these
tan’s East Village and is a key com- public charging stations, with hope-
ponent of the administration’s overall fully many more to come, is a big and
“Charge Safe, Ride Safe: New York in every aspect of the quickly-growing 400,000 projected ‘green-collar’ jobs innovative step in the right direction.
City’s Electric Micromobility Action delivery market. Thank you to DOT, in New York City by 2040. We’d like to thank Mayor Adams,
Plan” to support safe e-bike use and NYCEDC, DCWP and the Fire De- Three companies — Swobbee, Commissioner Rodriguez, and EDC
prevent deadly lithium-ion battery partment for making this possible.” Popwheels, and Swiftmile — are pro- President Kimball for their leader-
fires. New York City is among the first “E-bikes are critical tools for de- viding charging infrastructure for the ship in helping to combat the crisis
major cities in the United States to livery workers to support our local pilot. Swobbee and Popwheels are of deadly fires associated with faulty
launch a public e-bike charging pilot economy. This pilot will offer con- providing swappable battery systems, lithium-ion batteries by offering real
program. venient and safe charging options enabling participating e-bike users to solutions for our hard-working com-
“We count on delivery workers at public locations so that delivery swap a depleted, UL-certified e-bike mercial cyclists.”
for so much, and they should be able workers do not have to charge their battery for a fully-charged battery “Los Deliveristas Unidos sup-
to count on us, too — whether that devices at home,” said DOT Com- at designated outdoor battery cabi- ports this initiative led and imple-
means fighting for fair pay or making missioner Rodriguez. “We’re thrilled nets. Swiftmile is providing a secure mented by the Department of Trans-
their jobs and livelihoods safer,” said to launch this pilot and thank the charging bike rack where participat- portation,” said Alejandro Grajales,
Mayor Adams. “This pilot program mayor as well as our partners in labor ing e-bike users can lock up their representative, Los Deliveristas Uni-
we’re kicking off today will give deliv- for supporting this vision.” bikes and charge while parked. The dos. “Building e-bike micro mobility
ery workers the ability to access safe, DOT developed the pilot three technologies include fire safe- infrastructure like e-bike charging
accessible, outdoor battery-charging through the agency’s DOT Studio, a ty features, ranging from automatic has been a priority for Los Deliveri-
that will undoubtedly save lives, and research and development partner- shutoff if a battery is overheating to stas Unidos. This type of infrastruc-
we’re eager to expand this pilot even ship with NYCEDC and the urban fire suppression systems. The FDNY, ture is critical to enhancing safety for
further. We know the incredible po- tech growth hub Newlab. The an- a key partner in the pilot, reviewed not just the delivery workforce but
tential of e-bikes in our city and it’s nouncement follows the release of product development and will also the entire community at large.”
on us to make e-bike use even safer.” the administration’s Green Economy inspect each pilot location during “Our group has been waiting for
“Delivery workers, their families, Action Plan, a first-of-its-kind plan installation and throughout the dura- this great project to begin that will
and their neighbors deserve to be that outlines a roadmap to grow the tion of the program. provide charging stations for e-bike
safe from battery fires,” said Deputy city’s green economy — consisting Only participating delivery work- batteries,” said Sergio Solano, rep-
Mayor for Operations Meera Joshi. of investments in jobs and sectors ers will be able to take part in the resentative, New York City Food
“Workers need on-street infrastruc- that will help the city combat climate six-month pilot free of cost. In the Delivery Movement. “We thank the
ture for safe charging, and this pilot change — and train and position coming days, DOT will sign as many DOT for giving us the opportunity
is an important step as we continue New Yorkers, particularly those from as 100 delivery workers up to par- to be involved in this pilot program
our work with the City Council to in- environmentally-disadvantaged com- ticipate in the pilot program; during and thank the city of New York for
crease safety and worker protections munities, to benefit from the nearly which the workers will provide con- considering us as essential workers.”

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