The folks at Transportation Alternatives Bronx Activist Committee, headed up by Kevin Daloia, held their annual, novel, festive bike ride around the borough on Thursday, Dec. 16, in the lead up to the year-end holidays, all in an effort to spread some much-needed holiday cheer and spirit, amid the then-latest wave of coronavirus infections caused by the omicron variant.

Volunteers saddled up, dressed in festive outfits and took a late bike ride around some of the various tree-lighting displays in Belmont and Morris Park, before finishing up at Metropolitan Circle in Parkchester.

The event kicked off at Poe Park, at the intersection of Grand Concourse and 192nd Street, and consisted of a 6.5-mile, family-friendly, street ride, over the course of about two hours. Two of the riders rode unicycles and are members of New York Unicycle Club, while Kevin Daloia, the host, rode his own bicycle, which was decorated with festive lights. Susan Brenner of Kingsbridge Heights and Shawn Garcia of Transportation Alternative Bronx Activists, were among others who joined in the fun.

 

The riders stopped at various known homes and communities along the way that had lit up the streets with Christmas lights, to say hello and pass along some good wishes for the holiday season.

Transportation Alternatives Bronx Activist Committee is the local chapter of a citywide organization, Transportation Alternatives, which advocates for more use of bicycles and other healthier modes of transport, as well as increased and safer bike lanes. As reported, the group is also behind the “ghost bike memorial’ initiative which honors those killed while riding bikes in the City, with painted, floral, bike memorials at the sites of the incidents. Many who have died are immigrant delivery workers and the initiative aims to draw attention to the risks they take while delivering food to New Yorkers, no matter the weather.

There was some good news to be celebrated later in January for the approximately 65,000 delivery workers, however, as it was confirmed that the City Council had voted to approve new labor protection rights for the workers. As of Jan. 24, the following rules apply:

1. Apps must tell delivery workers how much the customer tips for each delivery.
2. Apps must tell delivery workers their total pay and tips for the previous day.
3. Delivery workers must have better access to restaurant bathrooms when they pick up orders.

 

NOW in Times Square: @AOC joins #LosDeliveristasUnidos to talk about improving working conditions of NYC’s delivery workers. Because of our organizing, we are celebrating winning more transparency from delivery apps and the right to bathroom access! #ProtectDeliveristas pic.twitter.com/7vwT2wzK8j

— Workers Justice ✊🏾 (@workersjusticep) January 23, 2022

On Sunday, Jan. 23, Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Los Deliveristas Unidos (LDU), U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer, NYC Comptroller Brad Lander, Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine, DCWA Commissioner Peter A. Hatch, City Council Member Gail Brewer & others held a press conference in Times Square to celebrate how the new labor rights will improve the lives and working conditions of delivery workers.

 

Go to: http://on.nyc.gov/33BL6el for more information.