New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams wrote a letter to New York City Department of Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez on October 7 expressing “deep concern” over the shared electric scooter pilot program in Queens and suggested suspending its implementation to address the issues properly.
Adams, who also serves as the council member for Jamaica and Springfield Gardens in Queens, pointed out that the arbitrary parking of scooters by riders on sidewalks and streets has been causing hindrance to pedestrian traffic.
In her letter, the council speaker stated, “The reckless abandonment of electric scooters on streets and sidewalks poses potential dangers, especially to the elderly and disabled within the community. The lack of effective solutions and enforcement from authorities on this matter is urgent.”
“I am requesting a reconfiguration of the electric scooter sharing program in southeast Queens to ensure necessary regulations and protections, prioritizing residents’ safety while supporting local transportation needs,” Adams added.
Many residents in Queens have also complained about electric scooters being carelessly parked, scattered on sidewalks, sometimes even thrown on the ground outside designated areas, impacting the aesthetics of the city and obstructing pedestrian movement. Some have been blocking walkways or doorways of residents, causing dissatisfaction among the community.
Adams proposed that the implementation of the program should be temporarily halted to address these unresolved issues effectively.
The Council Speaker will hold a press conference this afternoon in Jamaica to express her concerns and position on the matter.
The shared electric scooter program has been trialed in the eastern part of the Bronx for several years, with the pilot implementation expanded to approximately 20 square miles in East Queens between Flushing and JFK Airport on June 27. The eastern Bronx and eastern Queens are areas without Citi Bike services and relatively limited public transportation, making them prime locations for the shared electric scooter pilot program.
On the other hand, NYC Department of Transportation spokesperson Vin Barone responded by stating that the expansion of the electric scooter sharing program to southeast Queens and Flushing is built upon the overwhelming success of the program in the eastern Bronx. This expansion to Queens provides essential connectivity for approximately 600,000 residents to major transportation and commercial hubs. The Department of Transportation will collaborate with relevant companies to enhance services, including installing more scooter corrals and better planning parking locations.