New York City Mayor Eric Adams and US Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer have announced a new programme that will transform existing infrastructure to provide a place for delivery drivers to rest and recharge their e-bikes.
The Street Deliveristas Hubs project will benefit New York’s 65,000 delivery workers by proving shelter from the elements, as well as a place to charge their e-bikes and phones.
It will also revitalise public infrastructure, such as vacant news stands, to ensure the city’s space is optimised.
New York Mayor Adams said:Deliveristas are out there doing the hard work, day in and day out, and are essential to New Yorkers' way of life and to our city's economy, and essential workers deserve essential services. While most people have a break room to rest while at work, app-based food delivery workers do not. I'm proud to partner with Majority Leader Schumer to create the first-in-the-nation Street Deliveristas Hubs that will eventually help serve the more than 65,000 deliveristas in New York City.
By investing in existing, underused spaces, like vacant newsstands, this programme will ensure our public spaces serve all and ‘Get Stuff Done' for some of our hardest working New Yorkers.
This pilot programme is backed by a 1 million USD federal grant that will be used to renovate and transform under-utilised structures.
The Street Deliveristas Hub pilot programme will be the first-of-its-kind for app-based food delivery workers in the US. The hubs will be designed in high-traffic neighbourhoods with input from delivery workers and local communities.
New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez said:Delivery workers keep New York City fed. They are a vital part of the city's economy, and they deserve safe, welcoming work environments, just like any other workforce. DOT is proud to partner in this pilot as we continue to rethink our curb space to better accommodate e-bike deliveries. Thank you, Mayor Adams and Senate Majority Leader Schumer, for this novel approach to address the demands of the industry.
