Bayonne Mayor Jimmy Davis is pledging to launch a Hudson County Sheriff E-Bike Task Force if elected ahead of tomorrow’s primary race where he looks to unseat incumbent Frank Schillari.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“Campaigning in Hoboken alongside Crystal Fonseca and Jennie Pu, candidates for State Assembly in Legislative District 32, I’ve had countless conversations with Hoboken residents — and time and again, the issue of unsafe e-bike use has emerged as a top concern,” Davis wrote in a letter to Hoboken residents on Saturday.
“If I’m elected Hudson County Sheriff, I will launch a Hudson County Sheriff E-Bike Task Force — with Hoboken among its top priority. As part of my commitment to increase public safety in our parks and on our roads to keep you safe, this dedicated unit will work hand-in-hand with local police to enforce traffic laws, educate riders, and crack down on reckless behavior.”
He said this task force would be focused on e-bike safety and enforcement and would work hand-in-hand with local police to enforce traffic laws, along with rider education campaigns, and wider Vision Zero goals.
The Peninsula City mayor, who has the support of the Hudson County Democratic Organization (HCDO), also said he would enforce the “Tests and Vests” ordinance approved by the Hoboken City Council in March 2024 to regular e-bike delivery riders.
“This initiative will be guided by Hudson County’s ongoing commitment to Vision Zero — the goal of eliminating traffic fatalities through smart, equitable, and proactive safety measures,” Davis added.
“I want to be clear: this task force will not target responsible cyclists or undermine the progress we’ve made in promoting sustainable transportation. On the contrary, it will help protect all road users — including cyclists — by curbing the behavior of those who make our streets more dangerous for everyone.”
Davis, a retired police captain, is looking to stop Schillari from getting elected to a sixth term on Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop’s “Democrats for Change” gubernatorial slate.
The polls are open between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m. tomorrow and polling locations can be found here.
Davis seems to not respect the Hoboken Police Department, whose job it is to set enforcement priorities and practice in Hoboken, which Davis full well knows. County police officers can’t Hoboken’s laws and Davis knows it. This release is clearly day before the election posturing, make a promise he can’t keep.
Cars kill twice as many people *as murders*, in NJ every year: https://crashes.hudcostreets.org/#vs-homicides, at least 26 in Bayonne since Davis became Mayor (plus thousands of injuries).
E-bikes have never killed anyone in NJ, as far as I’ve been able to tell (from NJDOT and NJSP data, and news articles; let me know if you know of a case).
Leave it to Hudson County Complete Streets to always say “what about the cars” whenever people bring up concerns about e-bike safety.
Yeah, what about the cars. And what?
A large number of e-bikes ride on sidewalks, run red lights, and go the wrong way on one way streets and protected bike lanes. This is unacceptable. People are tired of this and change is coming whether or not Davis or Schillari win.
A car runs a red light and it’ll kill you. An e-bike runs a red light and then what happens?