Boston’s Mayor, Michelle Wu, is taking a stand on food delivery apps to enhance safety in the city. She has introduced new regulations aimed at controlling the rapid growth of these services, which have raised concerns among residents.
This proposal requires major delivery apps to secure a permit to operate in Boston. To get this permit, companies must carry insurance for all their drivers and share their data with the city.
Mayor Wu emphasizes the importance of this move: “We want to ensure safer deliveries for everyone on our streets, from pedestrians to drivers. This regulation helps guarantee that delivery workers have the insurance they need.”
Under the ordinance, the required insurance will cover liability, personal injury, collision, and medical costs for drivers involved in accidents, regardless of their vehicle or personal insurance. This ensures that drivers are protected no matter the situation.
The city plans to collect important data related to delivery activity, such as busy areas and driver speeds. This information will help improve parking solutions and road designs to keep everyone safer.
These changes respond to rising safety concerns. Just in 2024, Boston received over 100 reports about issues like increased traffic, double parking, and dangerous behavior from delivery drivers using scooters and mopeds.
Jascha Franklin-Hodge, the Chief of Streets, noted, “We want to motivate these companies to prioritize safety instead of just getting deliveries finished quickly. Using the data we gather will help us address issues proactively rather than simply reacting to problems like double parking and congestion.”
However, not everyone is on board with the proposal. DoorDash has argued that these regulations wouldn’t significantly enhance safety and might lead to higher costs for customers.
Before any changes take effect, the proposal must be approved by the City Council. This step is crucial to shaping the future of food delivery safety in Boston.
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