Public Battery Swapping E-Bike Battery Network Citywide, Rewind Campaign To Reduce Dangerous Driving, Malcolm X Plaza in Harlem: NYC DOT

Public Battery Swapping E-Bike Battery Network Citywide, Rewind Campaign To Reduce Dangerous Driving, Malcolm X Plaza in Harlem: NYC DOT 

Editors note:  We previously covered the expansion of battery swapping lockers in the Bronx, as well as their doing business with NYC DOT fair a few months back.  

 

NYC DOT TAKES FIRST STEPS TO INSTALL PUBLIC E-BIKE BATTERY-SWAPPING NETWORK CITYWIDE

25 Flagship Charging Sites Will Improve Quality of Life for New Yorkers by Reducing Fire Risks Related to Unsafe Charging Practices While Supporting Delivery Workers

Since 2022, Lithium-Ion Batteries—Many Uncertified—Have Caused 900 Fires in New York City, Killing 30 New Yorkers and Injuring 400 More.

NEW YORK – New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez  announced the city will begin the process to install e-bike battery-swapping and charging cabinets at 25 locations in neighborhoods with the highest delivery traffic. The new outdoor certified battery-swapping cabinets will provide a safe and convenient alternative to home charging, which can lead to deadly and difficult to extinguish fires. The cabinets will promote the use of high-quality certified batteries that are regularly monitored and inspected. The initiative is part of Mayor Adams’ “Charge Safe, Ride Safe” blueprint and builds on the success of NYC DOT’s public e-bike battery charging pilot, which found the cabinets to be safe, well-used, and convenient for the workers who participated.

 “Delivery workers have one of the toughest jobs in New York City. Building a public e-bike charging network is an investment in better working conditions and more peace of mind for working class New Yorkers,” said NYC DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez. “Safer charging practices are integral to a cleaner and more sustainable future, especially as e-bike use continues to grow citywide.”

“Preventing lithium-ion battery fires is a top priority for the FDNY,” said FDNY Commissioner Robert S. Tucker. “Through a robust public education campaign and public outreach, we have been able to make progress in reducing deaths and injuries caused by these devices. By expanding access to safe charging infrastructure in neighborhoods where delivery workers rely on e-bikes the most, the city is taking a critical next step to prevent future tragedies and keep New Yorkers safe.”

All battery-swapping cabinets will be equipped with fire suppression features, real-time battery health monitoring, and automatic alerts to the system provider to enhance safety. NYC DOT will work in tandem with FDNY to ensure all cabinets are properly certified to applicable UL standards and that all sites meet required clearances prior to installation.

Delivery workers will be able to use the full network of public battery-swapping cabinets through a paid membership. Based on feedback from delivery workers and advocates, NYC DOT will work to ensure access to charging infrastructure remains affordable and accessible. Full membership details will be shared at a later date.

Battery-swapping cabinets will be placed strategically to minimize conflicts with pedestrian circulation and to maintain street safety. Additionally, with standardized, certified batteries provided by approved vendors, users can swap batteries in under a minute.

 

 

 

NYC DOT UNVEILS ‘REWIND,’ A NEW VISION ZERO PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGN TO REDUCE DANGEROUS DRIVING

 

Campaign, with an Initial Investment of $3 Million, Targets Speeding, Red-Light Running, and Pedestrian Safety with Ads in 12 Languages

 

Advertisements will Run on TV, Radio, Print, Digital, Streaming, LinkNYC Kiosks, MTA Buses and Bus Shelters, and in Partnership with New York Sports Teams

 

NEW YORK – New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez  announced the launch of ‘Rewind,’ a multi-platform and multilingual Vision Zero public awareness campaign to help curb dangerous driving behaviors. The powerful new ads feature the tagline: “One Choice Can Change Everything. You Can’t Rewind a Crash.” The ads show individuals choosing to engage in dangerous driving behavior that result in deadly consequences that then rewind, stressing that in real life you can’t rewind a crash. The primary TV ad features a speeding driver who elects to run a red light, crashing into a mother and her young child as they step into a crosswalk.

“Crashes often are a result of a small decision that end with life altering consequences for everyone involved—and these powerful new Vision Zero advertisements remind drivers that one choice can change everything – you can’t rewind a crash,” said NYC DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez. “Beginning today, these ads will allow New Yorkers to see for themselves the horrible aftermath of dangerous driving—and seek to motivate New Yorkers to make safer driving choices to help prevent crashes before they occur.”

“Behind every traffic crash is a family, a community, and a story that can’t be reversed,” said DCAS Commissioner Louis A. Molina. “DOT’s new Rewind campaign confronts that reality head-on, reminding New Yorkers that safety begins with each of us. At DCAS, we’re committed to supporting fleet safety, protecting our workforce, and advancing Vision Zero alongside our agency partners. We commend DOT for this vital effort to reduce dangerous driving and save lives.”

The campaign, which launches with an initial investment of $3 million, is designed to connect critical messaging to newer audiences, including harder-to-reach demographic groups — among them, male drivers. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), male drivers are 37 percent more likely than females to be behind the wheel in serious motor vehicle crashes. In addition to airing across TV, radio, print, and digital media platforms, ads will be featured at Madison Square Garden (for New York Knicks and Rangers games) and Barclays Center (for Brooklyn Nets games), and content will appear through a variety of media—including billboards, buses and bus shelters, LinkNYC kiosks, gas station pumps, and other platforms. Print materials will also be distributed by the NYC DOT’s Safety Education team and at a wide variety of public events.

Ads will run in 12 different languages: Arabic, Bengali, Cantonese, Mandarin, English, Korean Haitian Creole, Polish, Urdu, Russian, Spanish, and Yiddish.

NYC DOT is working to reduce traffic deaths holistically through Vision Zero education, enforcement, and street engineering. Traffic deaths are near-record lows through the first three quarters of 2025, with traffic deaths down 18 percent compared to the first nine months of last year. The Adams administration has worked to both expand the city’s speed and red-light camera programs while delivering record numbers of new pedestrian spaces and protected bike lanes. The campaign is one piece of NYC DOT’s $272 million Vision Zero expense budget for the current fiscal year and the agency’s $5 billion 10-year capital plan for Vision Zero-related projects.

“The ‘Rewind’ campaign reminds New Yorkers of a harsh truth: one reckless decision behind the wheel can take a life in seconds,” said Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso. “I thank NYC DOT for investing in Vision Zero education that reaches people where they are and speaks directly to the communities most at risk. Efforts like this help move us closer to the safety and security every family deserves.”

 

“Reckless driving kills — and we’re committed to doing everything in our power to stop these crashes before they happen,” said Ben Furnas, executive director of Transportation Alternatives. “Every year, 250 New Yorkers are killed in a traffic crash, and every one of these deaths is preventable. We look forward to working with DOT in the fight for the safe streets, intersections, and sidewalks New Yorkers deserve.”

“This powerful, multilingual campaign sends an unmistakable message: one reckless decision can take a life, and there is no rewinding a crash,” said Ken Podziba, CEO of Bike New York. “Cyclists and pedestrians face the consequences of dangerous driving every day, and far too many New Yorkers have paid the ultimate price. Drivers hold a life-or-death responsibility — and that reality must guide their behavior every time they’re behind the wheel. We commend Commissioner Rodriguez and the Adams administration for taking bold action to confront reckless driving and for their unwavering commitment to making our streets truly safe for everyone.”

“Dangerous driving is sadly ubiquitous in New York City and across the country: recent AAA research found that 96 percent of people admit to engaging in some level of aggressive driving behavior. We applaud NYC DOT for making it clear to drivers that momentary actions behind the wheel can have lifelong consequences,” said Alec Slatky, managing director of public and government affairs for AAA Northeast. “But an aggressive driving culture doesn’t need to be a fact of life. If bad driving is contagious, good driving can be too: slow down, yield the right of way to other road users, and set an example for your neighbors.”

 

 

MAYOR ADAMS, NYC DOT, STATE SENATOR CORDELLE CLEARE ESTABLISH ‘MALCOLM X PLAZA’ IN HARLEM TO CELEBRATE CIVIL RIGHTS ICON

 

City Installed New Signage Saturday to Officially Designate Malcolm X Plaza on Malcolm X Boulevard, Between Central Park North and 111th Street

 

NEW YORK – New York City Mayor Eric Adams and Department of Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez announced the establishment of Malcom X Plaza in Harlem to celebrate the civil rights icon’s 100^th Birthday earlier this year. The plaza dedication of public space along Malcom X Boulevard, between Central Park North and 111th streets, honors the legacy of Malcolm X, who committed his life to the struggle for equality, and his connection to Harlem. NYC DOT celebrated the renaming Saturday with the installation of new signage with the plaza’s name. Commissioner Rodriguez was joined on Saturday by State Senator Cordell Cleare, who earlier this year passed legislation to rename the nearby subway stop in Malcolm X’s honor.

“We are so proud to continue to honor and celebrate the life and legacy of Malcolm X,” said New York City Mayor Eric Adams. “Today’s plaza renaming continues to cement the impact that Malcolm X imparted on the Harlem community, and our $1.5-million investment to have a statue commissioned in his honor, again, shows the massive impact he had on this neighborhood, on our city, and on this nation. Thank you to the Department of Transportation and the Parks Department for maintaining this public space. And a big thank you to New York State Senator Cordell Cleare for championing the renaming of the nearby MTA subway station, and for working with our administration to ensure we continue to honor the life and legacy of Malcolm X and other Black leaders in Harlem.”

“Malcom X has inspired me and countless others to fight for justice, even when up against greatest forces hoping to preserve the status quo. Plazas like this one around the city are meeting places where people gather to share ideas, build community, and, yes, join in protest for a better tomorrow,” said NYC DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez. “NYC DOT is honored to fabricate and install this sign today to celebrate the life of Malcolm X and remind New Yorkers of the power of their voice.”

“This makes me extremely happy, seeing the community come out together to enjoy this wonderful event,” said Senator Cordell Cleare. “This designation makes the Malcolm X Plaza a Department of Transportation Pedestrian Plaza, giving it an official standing. This enables us to secure city funding further to enhance the plaza’s beautification and host community programming. This is a major ceremony where we pay our respects to the international human and civil rights activist Malcolm X on the centennial of his birth year. This summer, in a grand ceremony attended by hundreds of community members and elected officials, we renamed a subway station after Malcolm. This event builds on that, with increased government investment.”

The newly named plaza on Malcolm X Boulevard was first established as a Parks Department Greenstreet in 2007, when the city closed the southernmost block of Saint Nicholas Avenue in order to expand a traffic island into a larger pedestrian plaza. The space is shaded by more than a dozen trees and features planters with greenery that double as public seating.

Pedestrian plazas are reclaimed streets transformed into vibrant, social public spaces for all to enjoy. Plazas enhance safety, walkability, and access to public transit while supporting community, commerce, and culture.

The Adams administration also announced the allocation of $1.5 million for NYC DOT to commission a statue in Malcolm X’s honor. NYC DOT will begin the artist selection process late next year. NYC DOT and its plaza partner, Friends of Malcolm X Plaza, will maintain Malcolm X Plaza with funding and operation support from its Public Space Equity Program. The agency partners with community organizations to oversee nearly 90 plazas across the five boroughs.

Banner Image:  A delivery worker swaps e-bike batteries using a battery swap cabinet piloted in 2024. Image Credit – NYC DOT