Category: News

Levi Duchman, a 21-year-old Chabad Lubavitch yeshiva student in Brooklyn, created a “pedi-sukkah,” which is a mobile sukkah attached to a rickshaw bicycle, enabling New Yorkers to partake in the Sukkot holiday tradition of blessing inside a sukkah. This innovation meets all halachic requirements and is part of Duchman’s efforts to make religious observance accessible in urban settings. He spends extensive time during Sukkot traveling around Brooklyn and Manhattan, offering people a chance to engage with the tradition. Duchman’s project has expanded significantly, with over 50 pedi-sukkahs now operating across 15 states and five countries. He also developed related vehicles for other Jewish observances. Duchman emphasizes that his initiative is not commercial but aims to foster religious awareness and community engagement.

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Despite a city ban on motorized pedicabs in New York City since 2008, there has been no enforcement action by the Department of Consumer Affairs over the past two years. This lack of enforcement persists even after reports of widespread use of illegal motors among pedicab drivers, and a recent incident where a pedicab caught fire due to an overheating motor. The Post highlighted that up to 25 percent of pedicab drivers were using illegal motors as of last fall, and current estimates suggest the majority now do. These motors are typically concealed within wheels or under seats to help drivers achieve higher speeds and earn more by conducting more tours with less physical exertion. Although illegal, the practice continues with vehicles being openly advertised for rent on list-servs. Enforcement responsibilities are shared with the NYPD and Parks Department, but no fines have been issued, even though penalties can reach up to $4,000 for multiple offenses.

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https://nypost.com/2014/09/08/nobodys-being-ticketed-for-illegal-motorized-pedicabs/

The entry details a frustrating day in New York City filled with traffic jams and delays, culminating in an enlightening experience with a pedicab. After facing prolonged traffic due to an accident, heavy congestion, and a presidential visit, the writer opts for a pedicab, the only vehicle that seemed to be moving. Initially believing the ride cost $4, they later discovered it was actually $4 per minute, leading to a total cost of $48 for a journey from 34th to 54th and Eighth Avenue. This experience illustrates why locals might avoid using pedicabs, due to the unexpectedly high costs associated with short rides.

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https://archive.nytimes.com/cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/09/05/the-pedicab-was-the-last-straw/?src=twr

An illegal motor hidden in a pedicab overheated and caught fire in Central Park, leading to the vehicle being completely destroyed. The incident occurred as the driver, carrying passengers, attempted to ascend a hill. Fortunately, no injuries were reported as the occupants managed to exit before the pedicab was engulfed in flames. The FDNY responded and extinguished the fire, while the city’s Department of Consumer Affairs continues its investigation.

This event underscores the ongoing issue of pedicab drivers illegally using motors to enhance their performance, a practice that was first widely reported nearly a year ago. Such motors were banned by the City Council in 2008, but enforcement has been lax, allowing the practice to persist and even grow. Honest pedicab drivers express frustration over the unfair advantage these motors provide, as they allow some to work less strenuously while servicing more customers. Penalties for using such motors include fines up to $4,000 for repeated offenses. Despite efforts to regulate this behavior, enforcement challenges remain, with drivers quickly alerting each other to avoid detection during inspections.

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https://nypost.com/2014/09/02/pedicab-with-illegal-motor-catches-fire/

Pedicab drivers in New York City, often seen in tourist-heavy areas of Manhattan, are predominantly immigrants, as indicated by a word cloud analysis of their names from the NYC Department of Consumer Affairs license dataset. This dataset includes 1,173 licensed drivers, providing insights into their backgrounds and residential patterns. Brooklyn emerges as the most common borough from which these drivers hail, particularly with a notable concentration in Brighton Beach (zip code 11235). A small percentage reside outside the five boroughs. The distribution of pedicab drivers shows significant geographical clusters, especially in southwest Brooklyn, with other clusters in Queens, upper Manhattan, and parts of the Bronx. This clustering might reflect job propagation within specific immigrant communities, similar to other localized employment trends seen in the city. The analysis suggests that these drivers, who must navigate the city’s streets while ferrying passengers, likely face long commutes home, possibly by bike.

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Helen David, the only female pedicab driver in New York City, faces severe harassment from a group of male pedicab drivers in Columbus Circle, who are trying to force her out of the industry. This group, primarily licensed from Mali and Senegal, targets her with threats and physical intimidation, asserting that it is inappropriate for a woman to operate a pedicab. They disrupt her interactions with potential customers by surrounding her, offering lower prices, and verbally abusing her and her customers. Incidents of spitting and tire slashing have occurred, with one recent assault involving an attempt to kick her in the chest. David has reported these incidents to the police and is seeking a restraining order. She advocates for the requirement that all pedicab drivers in the city have U.S. driver’s licenses to ensure better regulation and safety standards, contrasting with current practices where drivers can operate with licenses from various international locations.

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https://nypost.com/2014/04/22/citys-only-woman-pedicab-driver-says-fellow-drivers-harass-her/

Helen David, a female pedicab driver in New York, reports facing severe discrimination and harassment from a group of fellow pedicab drivers near Central Park. Since 2018, she has experienced daily hostility, including being cursed at, spit on, and physically attacked. This group has even gone as far as sabotaging her pedicab by puncturing tires and planting marijuana under her seat. Despite these challenges, David remains committed to her job, which she passionately describes as her love. She has reported these incidents to the police and the Department of Consumer Affairs multiple times, but to no avail. In response to the lack of action, she has decided to share her story publicly, hoping to bring an end to the harassment. The NYPD has confirmed that she filed a harassment report. Fellow driver Zlatan Davitkov has witnessed the harassment and has attempted to intervene, highlighting the dangerous environment David faces daily.

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https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/female-pedicab-driver-says-discrimination-has-reached-a-dangerous-level/

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Consumers often prefer flat-rate pricing over metered pricing due to the psychological discomfort associated with watching costs increase with each unit of consumption, known as the “taxi-meter effect.” This preference is not solely based on the economic benefits of certainty and convenience or an overestimation of usage but stems from a desire to avoid the anxiety of incremental charges. Studies, including those by Nobel Prize-winning economist Daniel L. McFadden and research by Anja Lambrecht, have demonstrated this bias across different industries, from telecommunications to retail banking. The discomfort applies even to experiences consumers do not enjoy, indicating a deep-rooted psychological aversion to metered pricing. This insight suggests that businesses aiming for transparency and high usage might consider designing pricing schemes that offer entry-point metered rates alongside flat-rate options for more loyal customers to encourage usage without the deterrent effect of metered charges. Some businesses, like car-sharing services, might find offering a flat rate challenging but can mitigate the taxi-meter effect by reframing their pricing presentation to reduce consumer anxiety over incremental costs.

For more information:

https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2013/12/the-taxi-meter-effect-why-do-consumers-hate-paying-by-the-mile-or-the-minute-so-much.html

A Manhattan nurse reported being assaulted by a pedicab driver named Mahamadou Soumano in Central Park after a dispute over the fare. The nurse, who had been boating with a friend, hired the pedicab for what was supposed to be a short ride. The trouble began when the driver deviated from the planned route and then demanded $15 for a ride that lasted about a minute. When the nurse offered $3.50, the situation escalated, and Soumano allegedly punched her, causing a visible bruise on her face. Although Soumano initially followed the women as they walked away, he retreated when a couple intervened, and the nurse subsequently called the police. Soumano was arrested and charged with third-degree assault, though he denies the allegations, claiming he did not physically attack the nurse and had even called the police himself after the incident. His colleague, Salim Diarra, described Soumano as a part-time pedicab driver and student, generally known for his good humor and calm demeanor.

For more information:

https://nypost.com/2013/11/20/central-park-pedicabby-punched-me-nurse/