We’ve all seen it: e-Bikes on sidewalks, e-Bikes running through intersections and hundreds of e-Bikes locked at the most convenient bicycle parking locations near the PATH: making life more difficult for residents who bike to the PATH train. We also have e-Bike delivery personnel ‘hanging-out’ waiting for deliveries all over Hoboken But what can be done?
Ordinance 168-48, also known as “Take a Test, Wear a Vest”: just isn’t working. It was the wrong approach because it put the burden of enforcement on our police officers. This is even beyond the fact that the administration doesn’t wish to enforce the ordinance, but I think there are solutions:
1. Enact a minimum wage for food delivery drivers just like NYC has done. Food delivery is NOT gig work and should be paid on W2 just like any position that requires workers to be at a specific location on a specific schedule. Paying delivery drivers as gig workers is a gross misclassification of labor law and it also means that the various delivery services can effectively pay less than minimum wage. Doordash is a company worth 100 Billion dollars and the other delivery companies are also worth a whole lot: on the backs of workers who make almost nothing.
2. Require drivers to show identification at food pickup locations and be required to be registered because they are delivering food. Allow restaurants to charge new drivers for registration in case of a mishap (no registration or vest) and to make money doing so, otherwise drivers can register in advance with the city.
3. Confiscate e-Bikes ridden by those who break the law. By statute, in New Jersey, police officers are permitted to confiscate bicycles if they are used in a dangerous situation. I don’t actually want anyone to have their bicycle confiscated, but this would act like a deterrent to those riding on sidewalks.
4. Encourage “resident pickup”. It’s often cheaper and faster to go get it yourself and the HBA can promote this to residents. It may be worth it to go even further by having the HBA fund a free beverage or other free small item for anyone walking to pick up their own meal rather than using the delivery apps. The cost of that small item is likely to exceed the costs incurred by the city controlling the e-Bike delivery situation.
5. It may be possible for Councilman Paul Presinzano to deliver all or most of our food delivery orders.