Proposed bill would allow food delivery workers to choose their routes with orders

Delivery workers would be able to choose whether or not to travel over bridges or through tunnels, and the third-party services, like food ordering apps, would have to adhere to those choices without imposing any penalties or negative consequences.

News 12 Staff

Sep 22, 2021, 2:16 AM

Updated 1,107 days ago

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A bill proposed by a Brooklyn councilmember is facing an important vote this week that could impact New York City’s food delivery services and its workers who help keep New Yorkers fed. 
The bill was introduced by city Councilmember Justin Brannan, requiring that third party food delivery services would allow workers to decide the area and routes to take to deliver food orders. 
Thousands of delivery workers cycle for miles and miles every day to deliver late night dinners. 
The new bill allows these delivery workers to set the maximum distance they’d like to go for trips. 
Delivery workers would be able to choose whether or not to travel over bridges or through tunnels, and the third-party services, like food ordering apps, would have to adhere to those choices without imposing any penalties or negative consequences. 
Leaders at Los Deliveristas Unidos, which represents thousands of delivery workers, say it's both a safety issue and a question of work-life balance.  
Courtney Bennett from 100 Black Men of New York, a group focusing on education, mentorship and community improvement, says the bill can open the door for more low-income underserved areas. 
The bill is coming to a vote this Thursday, Sept. 23. 
Hundreds of delivery workers are expected to hold a rally outside of City Hall to wait for the results.