Lmaoo. I deliver by ebike and agree. I see a lot of other ebike couriers ride on people's heels as they walk. Ride up on kids. It surprises me. No $8-$25 order is worth rushing like that. Or maybe caffeine intolerance. I can't fathom tbh.

I, otoh, got hit by a lady three weeks ago who was kind enough to run a stop sign on me. Now I have a fractured rib and an accident case (will likely edit or delete this comment).

But you have to consider, Hudson county has about 700k people in it. And we have mentioned the reality of JCPD's absence in local traffic patrol. I believe they don't patrol traffic because they can't afford to create hiccups. In terms of flow of traffic and even violence. A few months ago I was walking to my apt when a news caster stopped me to ask me if I knew about this accident he was reporting on in which two guys had some road rage argument about a parking spot. Once guy punched and killed the other actually in self defense and he was charged manslaughter. The hostility in Jersey city might be the real issue. and I understand why it exists but that can't be remedied so easily.

I think there will have to be a law that ebikes can not ride more than 9mph on the sidewalk. Or $75 minimum fine. Idk if ebikes will ever have to be registered but in 5 years bike lanes are going to invade like moss. Construction sucks but it would help. Jc is still in the infancy of it's development/gentrification. I used to live in Paulus hook 5 years ago. Completely different already. The city is already too wealthy to not be revamped and progressives don't want city miles. In 15 years I actually think it will become a bike city. Everyone thinks Texas is ridiculous, you need a car for what would be a 5 minute walk. It is still jersey though so there will always obviously be cars.

Man I could even speak on how ridiculous the car industry is. I drive too (not for work) and I personally believe only 2/5 of people who drive should be allowed to own personal vehicles. But it seems the auto industry is such a pillar of the country's credit that they'll let anyone drive. That and all the areas designed for car ownership... Like I popped a curb in my driving test when I was 16 and still got my permit.

I'm about to head out to deliver on my bike now and I am not looking fwd to it. I hate the cars, I hate the people, but I like it all a lot in other ways. I'm trying to dig myself out of my current financial hole atm. Delivering was only supposed to be a back up plan. There looks to be a surplus of delivery people right now. I do think the apps deserve some responsibility. Some of them put you on a wait-list but not for long. They function on revolving door hiring. You should read the NYT article about the billions Uber has poured into psychological research to keep their "freelancers" working around the clock.

Thankful this thread exists and for the links shared bc I think about this issue every day and spend many hours facing it's realities.