Category: News

Two letters express opposing views on New York City’s pedicab industry. Larry Penner criticizes the City Council for making life difficult for pedicabs, emphasizing that they are a non-polluting, people-powered form of transportation, unlike the many other vehicles contributing to congestion and pollution. In contrast, Gregg Zukowski, president of the NYC Pedicab Owners’ Association, supports stricter regulations, particularly the requirement for pedicab drivers to hold valid quad-state driver’s licenses. He argues that higher standards are necessary to combat illegal activity and ensure a safer, more responsible industry.

For more information:

https://nypost.com/2010/11/29/nycs-clean-air-peddlers/

On The Apprentice, the men’s team, Octane, won a pedicab tour challenge by choosing a Roman gladiator theme and a busy Midtown location, earning three times more than the women’s team. Despite their success, some members wanted teammate David fired, but Donald Trump refused. The women’s team, led by Kelly Smith Beaty, struggled after choosing the less busy Wall Street area for their “Babes on Bikes” pedicab tours. Although foot traffic increased during lunch, they fell far behind. Ultimately, Kelly was fired after defending her choice of location in the boardroom.

For more information:

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/the-apprentice-teams-duel-over-pedicab-tours/

A New York City judge has ruled that pedicabs are not allowed on bridge bike paths, regardless of whether they are pedaled or pushed. The case involved Duncan Elder, a pedicab driver from Manhattan Rickshaw Co., who was seen giving a non-paying passenger a ride on the Manhattan Bridge. The company argued that Elder was not technically operating the pedicab, but the judge, James Plotkin, disagreed, stating that Elder was still operating the pedicab even if he wasn’t pedaling. This decision could require pedicab operators to use trucks to transport their pedicabs across bridges. Manhattan Rickshaw Co. may appeal.

For more information:

https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/judge-no-pedicabs-on-nyc-bridge-bike-paths/

Three pedicab drivers helped stop a robbery at the upscale Petrossian restaurant in New York City. Neil Reed, 45, entered the restaurant, stole items from a manager’s desk, and assaulted two employees who tried to stop him. When the manager ran outside for help, pedicab drivers Shariff Zeid, Bouchaib El Hassani, and Nicholas Iacovino quickly subdued Reed, holding him down until the police arrived. Reed was arrested and charged with robbery, burglary, grand larceny, and possession of stolen property.

For more information:

https://nypost.com/2010/07/07/crook-gets-pedi-nabbed/

New York City’s pedicab business, which began in 1995 as a small, bohemian enterprise, has evolved into a regulated profession. Initially a quirky and profitable green transportation option, pedicabs grew in popularity but also faced challenges, including safety concerns and overcrowding. After years of debate, new city regulations now require pedicabs to be insured, inspected, and equipped with safety features. Drivers must be licensed, and prices must be clearly displayed. While some worry that the rules could harm the free-spirited nature of the business, many pedicab workers believe regulation will legitimize the industry and improve safety. However, the transition from a grassroots operation to a commercialized service has caused nostalgia among veteran drivers, who fondly remember the community spirit of the early days. Despite these changes, pedicab driving remains a physically demanding job with health benefits, offering drivers a way to stay fit while earning money.

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A pedicab driver, Nicholas Nicometi, and two of his passengers were injured in an accident after the pedicab crashed into a taxi upon exiting the Williamsburg Bridge in Brooklyn. The passengers had pleaded with Nicometi to slow down as he began swerving on the bridge before crashing into the cab. Although laws prohibit pedicabs from traveling on bridges, the city had not enforced the rule due to a legal challenge to pedicab regulations. Pedicab operators criticized the lack of enforcement, claiming that proper regulation, including seat belts and insurance, could have prevented the accident. The incident highlights ongoing challenges in regulating New York’s pedicab industry, which has faced legal battles since 2006.

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The article discusses the author’s experiences with pedicabs in New York City, reflecting on both their charm and the challenges they face. After offering a ride to a bride in Central Park, which she rejected, the author muses on the negative perception of pedicabs, partially due to incidents like a viral video of a fight between a pedicab driver and a taxi driver. The City Council recently passed a law requiring pedicab inspections and registration, tightening regulations on the industry. Drivers, many of whom are immigrants, welcome some regulation but feel the profession has shifted towards tourism rather than transportation. Despite their eco-friendliness, pedicabs remain expensive for everyday use, and the dream of making them a regular part of the city’s transportation system has faded. The article concludes with a whimsical vision of a pedicab-centric city, while acknowledging that many people likely wouldn’t embrace that idea.

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A 16-year-old Jewish teenager, Levi Duchman, from Brooklyn has created a unique mobile sukkah—a temporary hut used during the Jewish holiday of Sukkot—by attaching a bamboo-topped latticework hut to a rickshaw. Duchman, a Chabad-Lubavitch yeshiva student, has been riding around New York City, particularly Grand Army Plaza, inviting people to make blessings and eat inside the sukkah. The initiative has garnered significant attention, with onlookers taking pictures and expressing excitement. While the city plans to license all pedicab operators by November 20, Duchman’s sukkah is a temporary creation for the holiday, and he has received positive responses from police officers during his rides.

For more information:

https://www.chabad.org/news/article_cdo/aid/1003441/jewish/Bike-Plus-Sukkah-Why-Not.htm

The story follows Edward Charles Henderson Jr., known as June Bug, a 51-year-old pedicab driver in Brooklyn. Despite being shot 15 years ago and facing struggles with petty crime and drug use, June Bug has found solace in his self-built pedicab. He offers rides to neighbors and passers-by, enjoying the simple pleasure of biking around the neighborhood. Unlike the commercial pedicabs in Manhattan, June Bug operates informally without licenses or fixed rates, riding when he feels like it. His pedicab has become a symbol of community, offering rides to both children and adults, while June Bug continues to live between the margins of economic struggle and geographic transition in Brooklyn.

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New York City’s pedicab owners and operators are preparing for a lengthy battle against a new law that imposes strict restrictions on their industry. The law caps the number of pedicabs at 325 (down from 500), bans the use of electric motors, restricts their operation in congested areas like Midtown, and prohibits them from crossing bridges. Pedicab drivers, concerned about losing their jobs and the impact on their businesses, protested at City Hall. Despite Mayor Bloomberg vetoing the bill, the City Council overrode the veto. The NYC Pedicab Owners Association opposes several provisions, including limits on transferring business licenses, which would make selling a pedicab business difficult. Critics believe the law was influenced by taxi industry lobbyists, and some council members voiced opposition to the cap. The Department of Consumer Affairs will distribute pedicab licenses via a lottery, but advocates like George Bliss argue that green transportation, represented by pedicabs, cannot be stopped.

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