Living in the vibrant East Village of Manhattan, I have always appreciated the dynamic mix of diversity, culture, and the sense of community that envelops our neighborhood. However, recent changes on East 11th Street between 1st Avenue and Avenue A have drastically impaired the quality of life for residents and businesses like myself.

E-bikes have taken over our sidewalks, forcing pedestrians like myself and my neighbors to walk on the street, risking our safety daily. The once quiet street is now crowded with parked E-bikes, on the sidewalks and streets leaving hardly any room for pedestrians, handicap people, baby strollers and cars.  E-bikes and their owners are causing significant congestion on East 11th Street between 1st Avenue and Avenue A. The oversaturation of a minimum of 200 E-bikes has also culminated in a surge of rats drawn to the area by debris left behind, making our once pleasant strolls around the neighborhood an unpleasant and stressful experience.  The cutting of hair and eating of breakfast, lunch and dinner while sitting on the curbs and door fronts is a common occurrence every single day 24/7.

The streets need to be made safer and more livable. We must ensure East 11th Street is a space where everyone can safely walk, free from obstruction and hazards caused by the overwhelming presence of E-bikes and their owners congregating. Establishing regulated parking zones for E-bikes away from pedestrian pathways can alleviate sidewalk congestion and help restore public safety.  Our streets are not able to be cleaned because alternate side of the street parking does not apply to E-bikes.  The health of the residents on East 11th St is being compromised and is it at risk.

According to a recent report by the National Association of City Transportation Officials, city streets with better-managed bike parking policies significantly reduce sidewalk congestion and improve pedestrian safety. We need to act now to implement better infrastructure strategies that include the parking of E-bikes in non-residential areas and most definantly not on the sidewalks.  Clearly marked parking lanes for cars and separate parking for e-bikes and a limit to the number of E-bikes parked on the street in one given area.  There cannot be over 200 E-bikes and their owners parked and congregating in one single area and block.  When you can't find an automobile parking spot you must go somewhere else to park - the same must apply to these e-bikes and their owners.

Join me in urging local officials and city planners to immediately address this pressing issue by removing all E-bikes from East 11th Street and finding safer, more organized alternatives. Our goal is to restore the balance and safety of our community as we once knew it.

Sign this petition to support a healthier and safer East Village!