NEW YORK — New York City Mayor Eric Adams vowed Wednesday to tighten surveillance of shops selling electric bikes and mopeds, a day after four people were killed in a fire caused by a lithium battery in a business that sells and repairs these devices.
“While electric bikes are an important part of our transportation network and essential to many small businesses, our message is clear: there will be zero tolerance for any activity that endangers New Yorkers,” the mayor said at an event attended by municipal fire brigade and small business commissioners.
So far this year, 13 deaths and 66 people have been injured in 108 fires caused by lithium batteries, according to official data.
David Rodríguez with the special report.
The mayor insisted that the new action plan will include the immediate investigation of complaints about potentially dangerous conditions of storage or handling of lithium batteries in bicycle shops.
Likewise, an education campaign will be launched for the owners of these premises on the dangers of these batteries and on the best practices to prevent fires.
“From now on, calls to 311 (emergency phone) about questionable activity at bike repair shops or anywhere else that charges batteries will receive a response from the local fire station within 12 hours, within 12 hours. effort to save lives,” Adams said.
Yesterday’s fire was recorded in a store in the Chinatown neighborhood, located in the Manhattan district and which was located on the ground floor of a residential building.
In addition to the deaths of two men and two women, two other people were hospitalized in serious condition.
