Category: News

Council Member Erik Bottcher is calling for increased oversight and regulation of pedicabs in New York City, particularly in the Theater District, Hell’s Kitchen, and Times Square, after receiving numerous complaints about their disruptive noise and unfair pricing practices. According to Bottcher, pedicabs are not only causing a nuisance by playing music loudly enough to interfere with Broadway shows but are also engaging in price gouging, with reports of tourists being significantly overcharged, including an instance where a couple was charged over $500 for a mere 20-minute ride. Pedicabs are legally required to display their pricing clearly, similar to taxis, yet there have been persistent issues with riders being overcharged. Bottcher has addressed a letter to the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection, the NYPD, and the Department of Environmental Protection, urging them to enforce existing regulations more effectively and to consider introducing new rules to combat these problems.

For more information:

https://patch.com/new-york/midtown-nyc/bottcher-takes-dead-aim-loud-scammy-pedicabs-hells-kitchen

In Midtown NYC, a pedicab driver spat in a woman’s face and used a transphobic slur against her. The incident occurred at 5:55 p.m. on May 31 near Saks Fifth Avenue on East 50th Street. The driver, while transporting passengers, derogatorily referred to the 27-year-old victim as a “tranny.” Following an exchange of words between the two, the driver spat in the woman’s face and fled the scene, although the victim managed to record him on her smartphone. The Hate Crimes Task Force is actively searching for the suspect, and the public is urged to contact Crime Stoppers with any relevant information.

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Glass House Tavern, a popular restaurant in the theatre district, faced a flood of negative Google reviews due to a dispute with local pedicab drivers. The conflict arose after the restaurant posted a sign detailing the pedicabs’ high pricing to deter their congregation outside the nearby Lena Horne Theatre, which led to aggressive behavior towards the restaurant’s staff. In retaliation, pedicab drivers seemingly coordinated to leave negative reviews on the restaurant’s Google listing, with many being flagged and removed for fraudulence. In response, Glass House Tavern called on its patrons for support, leading to an influx of positive reviews from fans and Broadway personalities, praising the restaurant for its ambiance and offerings, helping to counteract the impact of the negative campaign.

For more information:

https://playbill.com/article/broadway-eatery-glass-house-tavern-targeted-with-negative-reviews-following-dispute-with-pedicab-drivers

Animal rights organization NYCLASS organized a protest in Central Park South and urged tourists to avoid horse carriages at any cost to stop the animal abuse. NYCLASS protestors held signs urging the tourists to take pedicabs instead.

For more information:

https://abc7ny.com/horse-drawn-carriages-abuse-animal-rights-activists-central-park/12586137/

On a rainy April night in NYC, after watching Moulin Rouge! The Musical, Scott and Brynne Saalman opted for a pedicab ride, enticed by the drivers’ warm smiles outside the Al Hirschfeld Theatre. Despite initial reservations due to a harrowing taxi experience earlier and the unappealing weather, they were persuaded into a pedicab, captivated by the charm of a nighttime ride through the Theatre District. The journey, filled with the dazzling lights of Broadway and the sounds of New York, turned into an unexpected adventure, with the pedicab driver playing up to the theatrical surroundings. However, the enchantment faded when they were charged $144 for a 16-minute ride, a stark contrast to their expectation of a more economical fare compared to Uber. Despite the shock of the high cost, Brynne appreciated the unique experience, underscoring the memorable, albeit expensive, first night in Manhattan.

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A 61-year-old tourist from California, who was apparently inebriated, suffered serious injuries after falling out of a pedicab near Times Square in New York City. Attempting to take a photo while standing in the moving pedicab, she lost her balance and hit her head on the ground, resulting in critical head trauma. She was rushed to Bellevue Hospital in critical condition. The incident occurred around midnight at Eighth Avenue and West 47th Street. The 33-year-old pedicab driver remained at the scene following the accident.

For more information:

https://nypost.com/2021/09/06/tourist-critically-hurt-after-falling-out-of-pedicab-in-nyc/

A tourist from California, a woman in her 60s, is in critical condition after she fell out of a pedicab and hit her head in Midtown, New York City. The incident occurred late Sunday night on Eighth Avenue, near West 47th Street. According to the NYPD, the woman was riding with another woman in her 20s when she stood up in the pedicab and subsequently fell, resulting in her striking her head on the pavement. She was immediately taken to a nearby hospital in critical condition. The 33-year-old pedicab operator stayed at the scene, and no arrests were made following the incident.

For more information:

https://pix11.com/news/local-news/manhattan/woman-tourist-fall-pedicab-critical-condition-midtown/

In Midtown NYC, a 24-year-old pedicab driver, Ibrokhim Azizov, was killed in a hit-and-run crash, and three passengers were injured. The incident occurred around 11:15 p.m. Friday when their pedicab was rear-ended by a 2017 Toyota Tacoma, driven by Mario Sagastume-Gonzalez of Stamford, Connecticut, on East 42nd Street near Fifth Avenue. Azizov was ejected from his seat into the street due to the collision, and his passengers—two 14-year-old girls and a 46-year-old woman—were also injured. All victims were taken to Bellevue Hospital, where Azizov, from Brighton Beach, Brooklyn, was pronounced dead. Sagastume-Gonzalez fled the scene but was later found and charged with vehicular manslaughter, leaving the scene of a fatal accident, and reckless driving.

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In a tragic hit-and-run incident on Friday night in Manhattan, a pedicab driver, 24-year-old Abraham Azizov, was killed, and two teenagers along with a 46-year-old woman were injured. The accident occurred around 11:14 p.m. near East 42nd Street and Madison Avenue. The victims were taken to the hospital, where Azizov, who had been driving the pedicab, was pronounced dead due to severe body trauma. The preliminary investigation revealed that a 2017 Toyota Tacoma, driving eastbound on East 42nd Street, struck the pedicab from behind, causing Azizov to be ejected and subsequently run over by the vehicle, which then fled the scene.

Mario Sagastumme-Gonzalez, 50, from Stamford, Connecticut, was arrested the following night and charged with vehicular manslaughter, leaving the scene, and reckless driving. The NYPD encourages anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers through various available means.

For more information:

https://pix11.com/news/local-news/manhattan/pedicab-driver-killed-2-teens-and-woman-injured-in-hit-and-run-nypd/

A pedicab driver, Ibrokhim Azizov, was killed in a hit-and-run incident in Midtown Manhattan when a Connecticut driver, Mario Sagastumme-Gonzalez, allegedly hit his pedicab from behind with a 2017 Toyota Tacoma. The accident occurred on East 42 Street and Madison Avenue, ejecting Azizov onto the street. Three passengers in the pedicab, a 46-year-old woman and two 14-year-olds, sustained minor injuries and were taken to Bellevue Hospital, where Azizov was pronounced dead. Sagastumme-Gonzalez, charged with vehicular manslaughter, leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death, and reckless driving, was later arrested by the police.

For more information:

https://nypost.com/2021/07/31/pedicab-driver-killed-in-hit-and-run-in-nyc/