Bill de Blasio now calls for more regulation of e-scooters following the death of Gone Girl and Cocktail actress who died 10 days after she was mowed down by one

 Bill de Blasio has called for greater regulation of e-scooters in New York one day after actress Lisa Banes died from a hit-and-run crash in Manhattan. 

The mayor of New York City pointed the finger at the state for legalizing electric scooters last year and said we 'have to be smart about' allowing the vehicles to further flood 'one of the most crowded places on earth.'

De Blasio said the answer lies in 'regulation, education and enforcement' as he described Banes' death as 'horrible' and a 'tragedy.' Barnes was hit by a scooter of some type 10 days ago - and left with catastrophic head injuries.

NYPD sources told DailyMail.com it is not yet clear what type of scooter struck Banes - whether a motorized foot scooter or a moped-style scooter - leaving her with critical injuries on June 4. She died in a New York City hospital Monday. 

New York state legalized the use of electric bicycles and scooters across the state last January, but shared app-based scooter programs remain banned in Manhattan.

Last June, the New York City Council then approved several bills legalizing the private use of electric scooters and bicycles across the five boroughs. 

It also announced this April that shared e-scooter companies Bird, Lime, and VeoRide had been selected to take part in a pilot this summer in the Bronx.

Revel-style scooters, which are motorized, are exempt from the Manhattan ban because they are classed as motorcycles or mopeds. These bikes were temporarily banned last year following a string of rider deaths before being reinstated following negotiations with the city and a series of changes being implemented.

It's not clear which type hit Barnes. There's no indication that it was a branded Revel scooter. 

Bill de Blasio on Tuesday (above) called for greater regulation of e-scooters in New York one day after actress Lisa Banes died 10 days on from a hit-and-run crash in Manhattan

Bill de Blasio on Tuesday (above) called for greater regulation of e-scooters in New York one day after actress Lisa Banes died 10 days on from a hit-and-run crash in Manhattan

It isn't clear whether it's a motorized moped-like bike, like the Revel scooter above, that hit actress Lisa Barnes, or whether it was a foot-powered motorized scooter
A foot-powered motorized scooter, like those popularized in other cities by scoot share companies like Bird, above, might have been what hit actress Lisa Barnes; it's not clear and authorities say they're still investigating

It isn't clear whether it's a motorized moped-like bike, like the Revel scooter above left, that hit actress Lisa Barnes, or whether it was a foot-powered motorized scooter, right. Authorities say they're still investigating (Stock photos)

De Blasio pointed to the state's lifting of the ban on electric bikes and scooters when asked about Banes' death and the city's role in regulating the vehicles. 

'[With] e-bikes and scooters I always offered what I thought was a common sense grassroots view that I heard from so many New Yorkers at town hall meetings,' he said, listing safety concerns raised such as 'that we were going to see more and more crowded streets, more and more crowded bike lanes.'

'These are real types of issues,' he said.  

'So the state made the decision to legalize the bikes and e-scooters,' he said.

'We're in the process of working out those regulations. 

'It's always going to be a process of regulation, education, enforcement and pushing really hard to get these pieces right to keep everyone safe.'

He didn't detail what types of specific regulations he was suggesting. 


De Blasio said it was a 'tough situation' but if new laws or regulations are needed, they will be introduced.  

'It's the most crowded place on earth or in the country at least and we're throwing these new elements in so we have to be smart about it,' he said.

'I think the answer is education, enforcement and continuing to refine the regulations to get everything right.'

The mayor pointed to the city's wrangling with Revel in the past. 

'We had a situation as you mentioned with Revel, we shut them down and said we need to see much clearer safety measures in place. Changes were made,' he said. 

'But this is something we continue to monitor closely and something we need to keep working on.

'I'm very troubled when people go against traffic and create danger for themselves and others.

NYPD sources said it is not yet clear what type of scooter struck Banes (above in 2014) - whether a motorized scooter or a moped-style scooter - leaving her with critical injuries on June 4

NYPD sources said it is not yet clear what type of scooter struck Banes (above in 2014) - whether a motorized scooter or a moped-style scooter - leaving her with critical injuries on June 4

de Blasio: City will continue to regulate scooters after fatal crash
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'So we are going to keep refining how we regulate, how we enforce but again anytime we believe a particular company is not acting in a way that is safe for New Yorkers we also maintain the option to shut them down and that is something we're going to continue to look at.' 

De Blasio said the apparent rise in road accidents had been caused partly by the pandemic as New Yorkers stopped using public transport due to fears of the virus.

'We had a global pandemic. People were not comfortable using mass transportation,' he said.

'People turned to their cars more than ever... more and more people turned to biking.'

The city is returning to pre-pandemic normalcy, he said, and so the issue will be 'fixed.'

'We are in the process  of normalization and the process of rebalancing,' he said.

'Now we need to get back to the work of getting people back out of their cars and keeping the streets all safe. It can and will be fixed, it will happen.' 

De Blasio had his own close call with an electric scooter in the city back in September.

The mayor was struck on the arm by a man who was riding an e-scooter with his seven-year-old daughter as he stepped on to a crosswalk in Lower Manhattan.

De Blasio escaped unscathed during the collision.

Meanwhile, the girl fell off the scooter, with both her and her father suffering minor scratches. They were reportedly not wearing helmets at the time.  

New York state legalized the use of electric bicycles and scooters last January, but shared app-based scooter programs are still banned in Manhattan. In June, the New York City Council approved several bills legalizing the private use of electric scooters and bicycles

New York state legalized the use of electric bicycles and scooters last January, but shared app-based scooter programs are still banned in Manhattan. In June, the New York City Council approved several bills legalizing the private use of electric scooters and bicycles

Revel bikes are exempt from the ban on electric bike and scooter sharing programs in Manhattan because they are classed as motorcycles or mopeds. Revel was temporarily banned last year following a string of rider deaths before being reinstated

Revel bikes are exempt from the ban on electric bike and scooter sharing programs in Manhattan because they are classed as motorcycles or mopeds. Revel was temporarily banned last year following a string of rider deaths before being reinstated

At the time the mayor's office released a statement encouraging New Yorkers to 'obey traffic signals and wear a helmet.'

The rollout of e-scooters and e-bikes has been a source of much back and forth in New York City. 

This April, the city’s Department of Transportation announced Bird, Lime, and VeoRide had been selected for its first e-scooter pilot.

They will each trial 1,000 e-scooters in the Bronx by the summer.  

This comes after Governor Andrew Cuomo lifted the state's ban on electric bikes and scooters last January.

The move spelled a huge win for delivery workers who use electric bikes and scooters for work and complained of being targeted by police officers in the city. 

The New York City Council then legalized the private use of electric scooters and bicycles in the city’s five boroughs and announced that e-scooter companies could apply for the shared electric scooter pilot program.

Lisa Banes, 65, was hit while crossing the intersection of Amsterdam Avenue and West 64th Street on the Upper West Side at about 6.30pm on Friday
Banes was a prolific actress on stage and screen

Lisa Banes, 65, was hit while crossing the intersection of Amsterdam Avenue and West 64th Street on the Upper West Side at about 6.30pm on June 4

Under the city bill, e-bikes can travel at up to 25 mph (40 km/h), and e-scooters up to 20 mph (30 km/h). 

Shared electric scooter companies are still banned in Manhattan.

However, the city’s docked bike-share program Citi Bike - which includes electric bikes - already has a permit in the city. 

Gone Girl and Cocktail actress Banes died Monday - 10 days after she was mowed down in a hit-and-run by a scooter on June 4.

The 65-year-old, from Los Angeles, was on her way to meet her wife for a dinner party on the Upper West Side when she was struck by a rider who blew through a red light.

Banes suffered a traumatic brain injury and had been in critical care at Mount Sinai Morningside hospital before she succumbed to her injuries Monday. 

Confirming Banes' death, a representative told Entertainment Tonight: 'We are heartsick over Lisa's tragic and senseless passing.

'She was a woman of great spirit, kindness and generosity and dedicated to her work, whether on stage or in front of a camera and even more so to her wife, family and friends.'

'We were blessed to have had her in our lives,' the rep added.   

Banes had been on her way to meet her wife Kathryn Kranhold (right), a former Wall Street Journal writer, for a dinner party on the Upper West Side

Banes had been on her way to meet her wife Kathryn Kranhold (right), a former Wall Street Journal writer, for a dinner party on the Upper West Side

Banes starred with Ben Affleck in Gone Girl, playing Marybeth Elliott

Banes starred with Ben Affleck in Gone Girl, playing Marybeth Elliott

Lisa Banes is seen with Tom Cruise in the 1988 film Cocktail
Kathryn Kranhold, Banes' wife at a book party with author Ken Wells

Lisa Banes is seen with Tom Cruise in the 1988 film Cocktail (left), and Kathryn Kranhold, Banes' wife at a book party with author Ken Wells (right)

The force of the scooter's impact sent Banes flying off the crosswalk. She was rushed by ambulance to Mount Sinai Morningside hospital

The force of the scooter's impact sent Banes flying off the crosswalk. She was rushed by ambulance to Mount Sinai Morningside hospital

The street where Lisa Banes was hit was cordoned off by police on Saturday as cops investigated

The street where Lisa Banes was hit was cordoned off by police on Saturday as cops investigated

NYPD officers were seen guarding the cordon as forensic teams got to work

NYPD officers were seen guarding the cordon as forensic teams got to work 

Witnesses said the scooter rider ran a red light at the intersection of Amsterdam Avenue and West 64th Street and then fled after knocking Banes over. 

An NYPD spokesperson said Monday night that no arrests have been made in the case. 

The TV and film star, who lives in Los Angeles, had been visiting NYC for the first time since the pandemic. 

Kranhold, a former Wall Street Journal writer, last week issued an urgent appeal for the public to come forward with any information about the hit-and-run. 

'We have several days ahead of us to pray for Lisa,' the worried wife told the Daily News. 

'If anyone has any information about the scooter driver, we ask them to please call police.'  

Born in Ohio and raised in Colorado, Banes attended Julliard in New York, world renowned as a performing arts school, before launching prolific acting career, according to the New York Post.

She married Kranhold at an intimate ceremony about four years ago at City Hall. 

Reacting to the news last night, Banes' friend and singer Jill Sobule shared a photo of the pair together in a book store, tweeting: 'Just busted. Lisa Banes was magnificent, hilarious, and big-hearted – always helped me though the hard times. She was so beloved by so many.' 

Seth McFarlane, the creator of The Orville in which Banes appeared, also paid tribute to the actress.

He tweeted: 'I am deeply saddened at the news of Lisa Banes' passing. We had the good fortune to work with her on The Orville this past year.

'Her stage presence, magnetism, skill, and talent were matched only by her unwavering kindness and graciousness toward all of us.' 

Seth McFarlane, the creator of The Orville in which Banes appeared, paid tribute to the actress

Seth McFarlane, the creator of The Orville in which Banes appeared, paid tribute to the actress

Reacting to the news last night, Banes' friend and singer Jill Sobule shared a photo of them together in a book store

Reacting to the news last night, Banes' friend and singer Jill Sobule shared a photo of them together in a book store

Banes is best known for her role as Marybeth Elliott, the mother of Rosamund Pike's character in Gone Girl, which also starred Ben Affleck.

She also appeared in 1980s blockbusters including Cocktail, starring Tom Cruise, and Young Guns, with Kiefer Sutherland and Charlie Sheen.

Banes had since had recurring roles on The King of Queens,  Six Feet Under and Nashville, as well as memorable guest roles on The Orville and Desperate Housewives. 

Banes also appeared in Broadway plays including 'Present Laughter' and 'High Society.'

She scooped up a Theatre World Award in 1981 for the off-Broadway play 'Look Back in Anger' and an Obie in 1982 for her performance in 'My Sister in This House.' 

Banes is seen in character as Lady Tremaine in the Disney series Once Upon A Time
Banes attends the Opening Night Gala Presentation And World Premiere Of "Gone Girl" 52nd New York Film Festival at Alice Tully Hall on September 26, 2014

Banes is seen in character as Lady Tremaine in the Disney series Once Upon A Time (left) and at the premiere of Gone Girl in New York in 2014 (right)

Banes with Christina Ricci in the 2002 movie Pumpkin

Banes with Christina Ricci in the 2002 movie Pumpkin

Banes scooped up a Theatre World Award in 1981 for the off-Broadway play 'Look Back in Anger' and an Obie in 1982 for her performance in 'My Sister in This House'

Banes scooped up a Theatre World Award in 1981 for the off-Broadway play 'Look Back in Anger' and an Obie in 1982 for her performance in 'My Sister in This House'

'She's a great character,' friend Cynthia Crossen told the Post last week.

'She's funny. She's fun. She's vibrant. She's just a person of many talents and interests.'

The fatal crash comes as traffic fatalities in New York hit a seven-year high.

As the pandemic emptied the roads of traffic, many drivers began speeding dangerously. 

At least 243 people died in traffic crashes in New York City in 2020 — making it the deadliest year on record since Mayor Bill de Blasio introduced his signature 'Vision Zero' plan to improve street safety in 2014.

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