CM Pinto Supports E-Bike Regulation - E-Bike Bill Becomes an Issue in Election Year
You know we’re making progress when Ward 2 Councilmember Brooke Pinto endorses the regulation of e-bikes. Now running for Congress, Pinto introduced the e-bike rebate bill a few years ago to put more bikes in the bike lanes. DC has provided $1 million in rebates. In answer to a direct question at a meeting of the West End Citizens Association earlier this year, Pinto said she would support a bill to regulate e-bikes on DC streets as a safety measure.
In this election year, the city-wide DC Safe Streets Coalition proposes DC act responsibly to regulate e-bikes, which add significantly to street hazards, as the tragic crash last weekend attest. On Easter weekend a 10-year-old riding an e-bike in a bike lane was knocked to the ground in a hit-and-run by an ATV. The ATV rider has not been found. Such an accident was inevitable from the reckless program of bike lanes while DC officials shirk responsibility to set limitations, precautions and safeguards. E-bikes are not bikes; they are motorcycles by another name. We will see more tragic accidents unless we do something.
We are pleased to see that candidates running for office are responding to the Coalition campaign, by endorsing our E-bike Bill to regulate e-bikes, particularly registration and tags so bikers can be identified and held accountable, but also including requirements for insurance, licensing, certification, and protective gear.
Congressional candidates endorsing e-bike regulation include Kinney Zalesne and Brooke Pinto.
Mayoral candidates endorsing include Vincent Orange, Talib Karim Muhammad, Gary Goodweather, and Kathy Henderson.
At Large Council candidates include Kevin Chavous and Oye Owolewa.
Councilmember candidates: At a candidate forum organized by the Kalorama Citizens Association last month, all 5 Ward 1 candidates said they support regulating e-bikes. They are Rashida Brown, Miguel Trindade Deramo, Terry Lynch, Aparna Raj and Jackie Reyes-Yanes.
Please encourage the discussion. Our goal is 1,000 in April. You know someone who will sign our petition. Who can you ask? https://c.org/GVFzcRN8kP
Nick DelleDonne
DCSafeStreetsCoalition.org
Dupont East Civic Action Association
703 929 6656