The New York City Public Housing Authority is contemplating a brand new rule that will ban tenants and company from storing electrical bikes inside its 177,000 flats throughout town.
The transfer comes after a sequence of fires that have been brought on by e-bike batteries. While the proposed rule is supposed to enhance security, advocates say it might create challenges for meals supply staff who rely on e-bikes for his or her jobs and who usually retailer them of their residing house.
The proposed coverage will bear a public remark interval till Sept. 6, at which level the housing authority mentioned it’s going to assessment and contemplate stakeholder suggestions earlier than issuing a last coverage, a NYCHA spokesperson mentioned Thursday.
Originally, NYCHA had deliberate for the general public remark interval to run till July 10, earlier than issuing its choice by Aug. 15.
According to the FDNY, 104 fires throughout town have been sparked by lithium-ion batteries final 12 months. As of July 7, town has seen one other 104 fires brought on by lithium-ion batteries because the begin of 2022.
A NYCHA spokesperson mentioned there have been 25 lithium-ion hearth investigations in NYCHA buildings since Jan. 1, 2021, together with eight to date this 12 months.
One NYCHA resident instructed NY1 reporter Alyssa Paolicelli that storing e-bikes inside the buildings presents too massive a threat.
“That’s a tough choice, but to me, my life counts first,” mentioned Manny Ramirez.
Meanwhile, advocacy group Transportation Alternatives, in a press release, mentioned town ought to work to develop an answer for e-bike storage in NYCHA buildings quite than ban them altogether.
“Instead of a ban, we would urge the Adams administration to come to the table with solutions like building out secure bike parking and public e-bike charging,” the assertion learn. “This infrastructure would be a real win for residents of NYCHA developments and all New Yorkers across the five boroughs.”
Los Deliveristas Unidos/Workers Justice Project, which represents app supply staff in New Yok City, couldn’t instantly be reached for remark.