New York City’s pedicab laws may soon change after the city council met Wednesday morning to discuss them. This follows reports of overcharging riders and a rise in unlicensed drivers. Support for change has grown within the industry, with the hope that these laws, once approved, will make rides safer for both the passengers and drivers.
According to the Center for Justice and Innovation, there are 850 officially licensed pedicabs active across the city, though industry groups say there are thousands that operate unofficially around Midtown Manhattan and Central Park.
“We are not trying to eliminate pedicabs because they are a form of transportation like many others,” said NY City Council member Gale Brewer. “…We want passengers to know what they are paying; right now you have no idea; you just have to argue…”
According to CBS News, the New York Pedicab Alliance and Times Square Alliance have made their support for these reforms known, pointing out how legitimate drivers can be hurt by bad actors, who ruin the whole industry’s reputation by not following the rules.
Among the many changes proposed are using physical or digital meters instead of timers for calculating prices, as well as establishing fixed rates per minute. Additionally, there have been calls for scannable codes on registration plates for identification, as well as making proper curb space for pedicabs in Midtown.
Deliberation will continue, and until these laws become official, these problems will continue to persist.
