I can’t go anywhere in the city without someone shouting out, “Hey Gridlock Sam, what are you gonna do about all these e-bike and moped delivery guys?” It doesn’t help when I tell them I haven’t been in city government for well more than three decades. But I still have opinions and ideas and experience.
Mayor Adams is creating a Department of Sustainable Delivery. This is a good first step toward addressing this and many other delivery issues. Let’s focus on the food delivery people also known as deliveristas.
When it comes to the deliveristas, I have a soft spot in my heart. I was a delivery boy for five years for my father’s small grocery store in Bensonhurst six decades ago. I certainly didn’t follow any rules or regulations but then again, I was a teenager.
Personally, I find the deliveristas follow rules more than other moped or e-bike riders but that is, admittedly, a low bar. Nonetheless, a report by NYC in November 2022 found they have the highest fatality rates of any profession including the previous most deadly industry, construction workers.
When I think of the deliverista problem I........