New York City Mayor Eric Adams and Department of Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez on July 28 proposed new registration rules for food delivery workers.
Under the proposed rules, app-based delivery companies will be required to register with DOT, assign each delivery worker a unique ID number and card and provide mandatory safety training and gear.
“Our administration is committed to creating safer, more sustainable streets for everyone from delivery workers to pedestrians to cyclists to drivers,” Adams said in a statement.
If adopted, the new rule would require workers to wear reflective vests displaying their ID numbers, and companies must report the types of vehicles used, allowing DOT to evaluate the safety of those devices. Failure to comply will result in penalties.
The administration says delivery apps often push unrealistic delivery times that lead to traffic violations and unsafe riding. By tracking workers through assigned IDs, the city will be able to trace reckless behavior back to the companies that encourage it.
The proposed rules will be published in the City Record for public comment. The Adams administration says they mark an important shift toward protecting delivery workers and the public in the fast-changing world of e-mobility. Critics of the proposed rule say it will create a list of undocumented workers in the city, which will help Immigration and Customs Enforcement to make arrests.
