The city’s housing authority or NYCHA proposes a new set of rules to regulate the storage of bicycles and electric scooters in its complexes, in order to improve fire safety.
“There are fewer fires. Fewer fires if they comply, but they don’t comply,” says Andrés Guerrero, a Williamsburg resident.
With this new proposal of limitations, the New York housing authority -NYCHA- seeks to prevent fires caused by lithium-ion batteries, and thus keep its inhabitants as well as their homes safe.
The rules have a two-month period – starting this month – for public comments and are an alternative to the definitive ban that NYCHA had suggested on the presence of bicycles or electric scooters in its complexes.
If the proposal is approved, the new rules in the apartments would be:
• Only one bicycle, scooter or electric skateboard could be charged at a time.
• Remanufactured batteries could not be used.
• They could not be charged near the apartment’s entrance door or in common areas.
• They should be plugged directly into the wall.
• The use of extension cords or power strips is prohibited.
• And an adult should be present during charging.
The Fire Department confirms that, so far this year, there have been 233 investigations related to lithium-ion batteries, 124 people injured and 14 dead in New York.
And here in Williamsburg some residents believe the proposal could be effective as long as people follow the rules.
“As long as it is the appropriate way of doing things, it is the most, the most important thing for us, not to put the lives of others at risk by putting batteries, plugging in, doing strange things, that people leave, that there is going to be a accident, a fire at night and everyone is burned in their house because of someone who did not take the appropriate fire prevention measure,” says José Díaz, a resident of the sector.
At the same time, there are those who believe that the proposed rules will not be followed or even that batteries should not be inside the apartments:
“If not, they don’t follow it. They don’t follow the rules, you never follow the line,” says José Díaz, another Williamsburg resident.
“I would say ban them completely. So that? “So that they prevent more people from dying and fewer fires.”
