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Laura Kavanagh was appointed Fire Commissioner by Mayor Eric Adams in October 2022. As Fire Commissioner, Kavanagh oversees the day-to-day operations of the largest fire department in the country, with more than 17,000 employees and a $2 billion budget. We're excited to have Laura Kavanagh on the show today to talk specifically about battery fires, where according to the FDNY, batteries have led to 180 fires (now 187) and tragically 14 people have died so far this year in NYC. SummaryCommissioner Laura Kavanagh of the NYC Fire Department discusses her rise through the ranks and her leadership in handling various emergencies. The focus of the conversation centers on the rising incidence of battery fires in the city, attributed to small electric vehicles like e-bikes, used predominantly by delivery workers. There is concern about the modifications and underground markets around these devices, emphasizing the need for regulation, inspection, and collaboration with other departments and agencies to address the immediate and future challenges presented by these battery fires.Highlights  Laura Kavanagh, the 34th commissioner of the NYC Fire Department, has held various roles and oversaw the department’s response to several emergencies, including the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic and the Ebola outbreak in 2015.  The FDNY reports a substantial rise in battery fires, recording 220 in 2022, up from 30 in 2019, and has noted the prevalence of these fires in small electric vehicles like e-bikes, scooters, and mopeds.  Much attention is given to delivery workers as they are heavily reliant on these devices, which are often modified or altered to enhance performance or extend battery life, contributing to the risks and frequency of fires.  Numerous issues arise from modifications, DIY conversion kits, and unregulated devices entering the market, creating unsafe conditions and usage that go beyond the original intended design of these electric vehicles.  The challenge of inspecting and regulating these devices is intensified by the prevalence of underground markets and the inability to inspect private apartments where unsafe charging and alterations often occur.  The FDNY is collaborating with the Department of Homeland Security and other agencies to examine and address the public safety impacts, with considerations on future innovations, recycling, and regulations on electrification.  While government agencies are receptive and showing progress, Kavanagh emphasizes the urgency in expediting regulations and legislative actions to address the growing and immediate risks associated with battery fires in small electric vehicles.

CEO of Oonee, Shabazz Stuart, discusses the rise of electric two and three-wheelers and their impact on oil demand. The podcast also explores the popularity of electric bike vouchers in the US and highlights the importance of standardized agreements and infrastructure for micro-mobility.

We’re incredibly excited to introduce the first round of speakers joining us at Micromobility America in the SF Bay Area this October! Manufacturers, operators, brands, policymakers, investors, media—and this is just the start. https://micromobility.io/events/micromobility-america We are giving away some GOFLUO gear. Leave a comment here and head on over to ridereview.com for your chance to win. https://ridereview.com/giveaway/win-a-gofluo-bodyflower-and-bag Chapters: 00:00 - 5:20 Announcements and giveaways 5:21 - 8:59 NYC enforces traffic cameras 9:00 - 14:18 NYC Equitable Commute Project off to slow start 14:19 - 17:18 Lavoie buys Vanmoof 17:19 - 19:52 Kenya shipping electric motorcycles at scale 19:53 - 31:58 Vehicle Launches! 31:59 Interview with Patrick Wirth at Baloise Group NYC has speed cameras cranking Here’s a novel idea for reducing car deaths: enforce traffic laws. One year after introducing its new 24/7 automatic traffic ticketing system, New York City speed violations have reportedly dropped by 30%. Small mode shift leads to big gains A good argument for why motorists should want to see more ebikes on the road: “Studies have shown that a mere 10% shift from car drivers to bike riders has resulted in a 40% reduction in traffic congestion. Even if you never touch an ebike, you would benefit from supporting their increased use.” Lavoie buys Vanmoof Cult ebike brand VanMoof has been bought out of bankruptcy by Lavoie, a company that makes high-end scooters based on McLaren Applied’s Formula 1 technology. VanMoof’s bankruptcy earlier this summer had left its more than 190,000 riders in limbo. NYC Equitable Commute Project can't get off the ground New York City’s ebike trade-in program—designed to help delivery workers swap low-quality, fire-prone bikes for safer, industry-certified models—is off to a rocky start. Since July, only three bikes have been traded in. Experts say the city’s 60,000+ delivery workers aren’t participating due to language barriers, cost of the trade-ins, and a slow and somewhat difficult approval process. Kenya is making the US programs look silly. Kenya has revealed the details of its ambitious new plan to encourage electric motorbikes adoption through a manufacturing partnership with the African startup Spiro. “[President] Ruto said Kenya currently had 1,000 of the new bikes, with another 10,000 on their way, and that Spiro had established a plant with the capacity to assemble 1,000 of the vehicles daily.” Vehicle Launches The new V13 Challenger from Chinese manufacturer InMotion is a thrilling new electric unicycle that reaches a staggering top speed of 87 mph (140 kph), powered by a 4,500W motor with a maximum torque of 300 Nm. Speaking of Specialized, the company just launched the new Globe Haul LT electric cargo bike, a heavy duty hauler equipped with a throttle and a top speed of 28 mph (45 kph). The $3,500 bike has a carrying capacity of 176 lbs (80kg), a 700W hub motor equipped with a torque sensor, and a UL-listed 772 Wh batter with a range of up to 90 miles (96 km). Cannondale’s Cargowagen and Wonderwagen Neo are two newest additions on the electric cargo bike scene. The Cargowagen is a longtail that can haul up to 80kg, while the Wonderwagen has a giant front bay that can carry 100 kg, plus another 27kg on the rear rack. Both models are powered by capable Bosch motors, giving them a top speed of 28 mph (45 kph). Interview with Patrick Wirth Today we have Patrick Wirth on the show. Patrick is the VP of Mobility at Baloise Group. Baloise, is a European insurance company headquartered in Basel, Switzerland. Founded in 1863, the company offers a range of insurance and pension solutions, as well as investment products. VC. It is very cool to see an insurance company get into VC and take a different approach to not only investing but also the ongoing relationship these companies might have with an insurance company.

We are doing a GOFLUO giveaway, leave a comment here and enter to win at Ride Review: https://ridereview.com/giveaway/win-a-gofluo-bodyflower-and-bag Meet Julie Vets, Founder and CEO of GOLUO, https://gofluo.com/, and learn how she is inventing the category of high visibility gear for everyone that is moving. You can also see Julie present at Micromobility Europe 2023: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7br1CqOz3EU&t=43s

James Gross interviews entrepreneur Dan Carr about the U.S. launch of Wombi, an all-inclusive electric cargo bike subscription, in Culver City and West LA: https://wombi.us/ Wombi aims to encourage people in Los Angeles to drive less, be more active, and enjoy their city. They offer electric cargo bikes as an alternative to cars, addressing issues like traffic, social isolation, and fluctuating gas prices. Wombi started in Australia as Lug+Carrie and has a history of helping people find car alternatives. Customers can pick a Wombi bike that suits their lifestyle, customize it with accessories, and enjoy free delivery. The subscription includes full bike maintenance, insurance, and the flexibility to adapt to changing needs, such as adding child seats or pet carriers. There are two ebikes to choose from, the Tern Quick Haul and Tern GSD, with over 20 accessories. Chapters: 00:00 - 03:50 Why subscription + cargo ebikes is a game-changer 03:50 - 07:12 Backstory of the brand in Australia (Lug+Carrie) 07:12 - 13:45 Wombi's launch in SoCal 13:45 - 18:12 Lowering the barrier to entry with subscription 18:12 - 20:55 Why Wombi uses ebikes from Tern 20:55 - 23:03 Improvements in theft prevention 23:03 - 30:46 Incentives for families, schools, cities 30:46 - 35:09 Future growth plans

Founder and CEO of Onewheel, Kyle Doerksen, discusses the community-building movement around Onewheel and the emergence of riding groups, festivals, and events. The podcast also explores the importance of aligning companies and city policy makers for micro-mobility and discusses the advantages and challenges of domestic manufacturing. Other topics include the launch of new electric motorbikes by Ola Electric and the comparison between e-bikes and pedal bikes for shared mobility programs.

Author Edward Niedermeyer discusses the misconceptions about autonomous vehicles (AVs) and urbanists' views. He emphasizes the distinction between AVs and Teslas' autopilot system. Niedermeyer highlights the need for legislative action on automaker safety standards and factors driving AV adoption. The chapter also explores the controversy surrounding AVs and the importance of public education. Understanding the difference between AVs and traditional cars is crucial for reshaping cities and mobility.

Win a lectric XP 3.0, enter the contest here: https://ridereview.com/giveaway/lectric-xp-3-0-giveaway- We announced the Ride Expo in the San Francisco Bay Area on October 20th! Register now for a $10 ticket. https://lu.ma/yvv4158o Chapters: 00:00 Intro 03:40 More consolidation coming to the world of shared micromobility? 08:46 Trek or Giant to buy Vanmoof? 11:23 How journalists are covering traffic violence against ebike riders 17:15 Mayor of Boston offering free bike lessons for kids 18:30 Vehicle Launches 21:42 Meet Keith Simon from Waev and new GEM line! Show notes: Is more consolidation coming to the world of shared micromobility? Rumor has it that two of Europe’s largest electric scooter and bike operators, Tier and Voi, are exploring the possibility of a merger. https://www.handelsblatt.com/unternehmen/handel-konsumgueter/tier-und-voi-e-scooter-marktfuehrer-spricht-mit-wettbewerber-ueber-fusion/29285566.html Relatedly, industry analyst Augustin Friedel offers a strong testimony that the shared market is still growing rapidly. (NYC, Paris) https://www.linkedin.com/posts/friedel_sharedmobility-micromobility-bikes-activity-7093903247832145920-n67y?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop As part of her effort to make Boston one of the top U.S. cities for raising children, Mayor Michelle Wu is providing free bike lessons for children between the ages of four and thirteen, calling cycling as a “crucial life skill.” 300 students, 15 schools. How much does this cost? https://wbznewsradio.iheart.com/content/2023-07-19-boston-mayor-wu-announces-free-citywide-bike-riding-lessons-for-kids Interesting eBike deals - VanMoof is accepting suitors (Trek, Giant, KKR). James and Micah discuss NYT victim blaming: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5ItDY0rIb4 Vehicle Launches Kawasaki appears to have begun production on its first two electric motorcycles, the Ninja e-1 and the Z e-1. Last year, the company announced the vehicles’ development, and while it appears that some of the specs for the production bikes will be slightly different than anticipated, Kawasaki is still set to become the first large motorcycle manufacturer in Japan to go electric. https://electrek.co/2023/08/02/kawasaki-says-its-first-electric-motorcycles-are-ready/ Crowdfunding for the new WAU CYBER “Unleash the Beast” 5000W ebike is still live on Indiegogo for one more day. This self-proclaimed “Sur-Ron Killer” has an ultra sleek body and tops out at 55 mph - currently, 23 of the early bird models remain to be claimed. https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/wau-cyber-unleash-the-beast-5000w-powerhouse-ebike#/updates/all Aventon is launching the Soltera.2, a new, Class 2 ebike with 46 miles (74km) of range, a removable throttle, and pedal assist, to name a few of its features. Building upon the lightweight aluminum frame of the original Soltera, the new model aims to bring the latest technology at an affordable price. https://www.aventon.com/products/soltera-2-ebike?variant=42472444920003 Lámpago’s new electric trike design is certain to turn heads on your morning commute. The Turkish three-wheeler has two seats, a 25-45 mile (40-72km) range, and a top speed of 28mph (45kph). Did we mention that, because it lacks a roof, it is technically classified as a moped and requires a helmet to drive? https://lampago.co/en We have Keith Simon from Waev on Ride On!

James Gross and Micah Toll discuss Micah's latest article on Electrek: The 'New York Times' attacks e-bikes while ignoring the real danger all around us  The New York Times published a pair of articles this weekend highlighting the rising number of deaths of cyclists riding electric bikes. However, in one of the most impressive feats of victim-blaming I’ve seen from the publication in some time, the NYT lays the onus on e-bikes instead of on the things killing their law abiding riders: cars. By all accounts, the e-bike rider was correctly and legally using the roadway in the only way he could. In fact, according to eye-witnesses of the car crash that killed the e-bike rider, he “did everything right,” including signaling his turn.  The article goes on to detail how just three days later another teenage e-bike rider was pulled out from under a BMW – thankfully still alive – and taken to the same emergency room where the previous boy had been pronounced dead. Apparent praise is lauded on Encinitas for soon afterward declaring “a state of emergency for e-bikes,” which is a bit like saying we could just solve the school shootings crisis if kids would stop walking into all of those damn bullets. Two other points that the NYT didn't do research on:  El Camino is the most dangerous road in Encinitas. We also had a pedestrian fatality this year of a young man at another area of high crash count in Encinitas. The Encinitas City Council in 2020 voted out speed cameras on El Camino Real, which is one of the biggest deterrents to speeding and distracted driving. It also set a terrible precedent that we don't believe in enforcing traffic laws and using technology to help create a consistent standard that we won't tolerate dangerous and illegal driving in our city.  https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/communities/north-county/encinitas/story/2020-05-10/encinitas-pulls-the-plug-on-red-light-camera-program  This quote should have led the NYT piece with some more research: “Nothing has changed, and hundreds of people are still getting these ridiculous fines,” Mosca said, referring to the $490 court-set cost of a ticket. Credit to Mayor Kranz and Councilmember Hinze for both voting against taking out the speeding/RL cameras.  Finally, a 56 year old woman was killed and a 32 old man is in critical condition from car violence while on bikes this week in San Diego. One was hit by a Chevy Silverago and the other a F-150. Can you guess which two cars are responsible for killing the most Americans every year? Imagine if we looked to regulate safety for those vehicles? I know that is not going to happen anytime soon, in the meantime we can make our streets safer through slower speeds, traffic enforcement and safety education for riders (and drivers) and not through victim blaming. https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/e-biker-dies-after-collision-with-pickup-in-gaslamp-quarter-san-diego-police/3272854/  Micah on Electrek: https://electrek.co/author/micahltoll/ Micah's ebike school channel: https://www.youtube.com/@EbikeSchool

We announced the Ride Expo in the San Francisco Bay Area on October 20th! Register now for a $5 ticket. https://lu.ma/yvv4158o Ride On! is now in Audio! Subscribe to Ride On!: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ride-on-by-micromobility-industries/id1434457337 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1G2fPNzUw5mo5asaCoH7O0 Chapters: 00:00 Intro 02:13 California announces new ebike license bill 10:08 Is Lyft quitting bike share? 18:58 Bolt still growing 22:54 Craig Mod essay on riding an ebike 25:33 Vehicle Launches 31:38 Meet Adam McDermott, CEO of Linus Bikes and their new electric bike line! Show Notes: eBike Bill Some state lawmakers in California want to require unlicensed ebike users to get a special “ebike license” (online test + written test) and undergo a training program (with DMV and State Highway Patrol). The bill is targeted at teenagers who do not have a regular driver’s license. It would also ban children under the age of 12 from riding ebikes. Assembly Member Tasha Boerner explained that the creation of a driver’s license for previously unlicensed e-bike riders is a matter of safety (represents Encinitas) Lyft Gives Up Lyft (“a taxi company” - what a dig!) is looking to quit bike- and scooter-sharing and seeking buyers. Despite being the largest bike-share operator in North America, Lyft’s CEO recently said the company isn’t doing a good enough job directing bikeshare riders to taxi trips.(Who writes shit in blog posts anymore?) “If what is in that WSJ story is true,” said David Zipper, a Visiting Fellow at Harvard Kennedy School who studies urban mobility, “it suggests there may be a conflict of interest that is irreconcilable between bikeshare and ridehail.” Bolt still growing Estonian TNC Bolt is beefing up its scooter fleet, increasing its spending on new vehicles by 10x between 2020 and 2022. 200k vehicles in 200 cities. Avg. life of vehicle is 1 year(!). Spent 28% of revenues on maintenance of rental vehicles. Made most of its money in Europe (1B), but interestingly, Africa was its second largest market (226.5M). Spent 5% of revenues on payment processing (WTH?!) Electric Bike, Stupid Love of My Life, Great essay by Craig Mod https://craigmod.com/essays/electric_bikes/ French startup La Rochelle just released a new catamaran called the IZIBoat, which is designed to collapse down and be towed by an ebike. Meet the Hupi: a Finnish-designed, solar powered camper that’s towable by an electric bike. Not only can this camper power itself, the solar cells can also be used to recharge an ebike. The Barbie film made its blockbuster debut this past weekend, and it included a surprise cameo from Super73. Speaking of moto-inspired ebikes, QuietKat just revealed their new Lynx ebike, which includes two speed settings and a powerful 1000 watt rear hub motor. The Iris etrike is a three-wheeled enclosed EV designed by a legacy inventor and tested by astronauts. Check out inventor Grant Sinclair’s interview explaining this vehicle’s vetted design process, before its upcoming release. UBCO just launched their first rental hub in Portland, Oregon, which allows riders to try out vehicles through various rental plans. My Boo just released their new My Akorta electric mountain bike, which includes front suspension, a high-performing Shimano EP8 motor, and a frame made entirely of bamboo. Meet Linus Bikes Co-Founder Adam McDermott founded Linus Bike. The company is based in Venice, California. Check out their 2 new electric bike modes at: https://www.linusbike.com/