Category: News

n Midtown, a hit-and-run incident involving a pedicab resulted in injuries to two people. The event occurred just before 8 p.m. on a Sunday at 48th Street and 8th Avenue. The driver, suspected to be in his 20s, hit the pedicab and fled, only to crash his vehicle into a parked car 8 blocks later, causing it to flip. The driver was then arrested by the police. Among the injured was the pedicab driver, who declined medical help. The condition of the injured parties remains unclear, and legal action against the driver is anticipated.

For more information:

https://abc7ny.com/midtown-hit-and-run-pedicab-crash-manhattan/10756465/

A drunk driver, Ibrahim Dembele, was arrested after a series of collisions in New York City that involved hitting a pedicab, multiple cars, and a pedestrian. The incident occurred near the Port Authority Bus Terminal around 8 p.m. on a Sunday. Dembele initially struck a pedicab and another vehicle while backing into an intersection at W. 40th Street and Eighth Avenue. He then fled north on Eighth Avenue, leading to a chase by NYPD officers on foot. The pursuit ended at W. 48th Street where Dembele hit two additional cars and a pedestrian, resulting in his vehicle flipping. Two men, aged 43 and 63, were reported as victims, though details about the pedestrian were not specified. Dembele was taken to Bellevue Hospital for testing and was charged with drunk driving, leaving the scene of a crash, and reckless driving.

For more information:

https://nyc.streetsblog.org/2021/06/07/reckless-drunk-hit-and-run-driver-arrested-after-midtown-crash

In Times Square on Thursday night, two pedicab drivers were assaulted following a dispute with a large group of teenagers around 9:30 p.m. at 42nd Street and Seventh Avenue. The confrontation escalated, resulting in one driver being stabbed in the leg and the other slashed on the wrist. Additionally, one of their pedicabs was stolen. Police were questioning three individuals in connection to the incident as of Thursday night.

For more information:

https://pix11.com/news/local-news/manhattan/pedicab-drivers-stabbed-slashed-by-group-of-teens-in-times-square-nypd/

Liam Neeson has voiced concerns over the impact of pedicabs on the traditional horse-carriage business in New York City, highlighting the issue of tourists and locals being scammed by illegal vendors. With instances like Alec Baldwin’s family being scammed by illegal ticket sellers in Battery Park, Neeson points out the broader issue of tourist exploitation throughout NYC. Despite regulations, illegal vending and solicitation persist in areas like Times Square and Central Park, undermining licensed businesses and misleading tourists. Neeson notes that Central Park entrances are plagued by unauthorized hawkers and pedicabs, which interfere with the horse-carriage industry by soliciting tourists directly in front of carriage stands, often leading to confusion and disappointment for those looking forward to a carriage ride. Despite repeated complaints from carriage drivers to city agencies and the NYPD about illegal activities harming their business, there has been a lack of comprehensive enforcement from the city. The call is for Mayor de Blasio and the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection to take decisive action to protect both tourists and legitimate businesses from these practices, striving to make NYC the fairest big city in America by enforcing existing regulations against illegal vending and ensuring a fair competitive environment for all.

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A viral video showcases a moment of camaraderie in lower Manhattan, where two individuals assisted NYPD Officer Brett Armstrong after his finger got stuck in the trunk of his squad car. The incident occurred on Baxter Street near the courts, contrasting sharply with recent events where police were targeted with water attacks. Armstrong had trapped his middle finger while placing a pedicab driver’s belongings in the trunk, a driver he and his partner Officer Yan Poon had arrested for lacking a seatbelt. Upon calling for help, a passerby immediately responded, attempting to unlock the driver’s-side door but mistakenly opened the hood. With the assistance of a few more people, they successfully opened the trunk, freeing Armstrong’s finger after about three minutes. Armstrong, who suffered a pinched digit, expressed his gratitude with a fist bump, citing the incident as a restoration of his faith in humanity. This event came to light shortly after videos of individuals dousing police officers with water had sparked widespread condemnation among law enforcement and union officials.

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An NYPD officer, Brett Armstrong, found himself in a peculiar situation when his middle finger got stuck in the trunk of his police vehicle in Lower Manhattan on a Sunday afternoon. Armstrong and his partner were placing a pedicab driver’s belongings into the trunk following the driver’s arrest due to the absence of seatbelts in his cab. During the process, the trunk lid closed on Armstrong’s right hand, trapping his finger. After calling for help, a civilian approached, accessed Armstrong’s keys, and after initially opening the hood by mistake, successfully opened the trunk with assistance from three other individuals, as directed by Armstrong to the release mechanism “on the wheel.” The ordeal, which lasted about three minutes, was captured on video and thankfully, Armstrong did not sustain serious injuries.

For more information:

https://www.complex.com/life/a/gavin-evans/group-of-people-help-nypd-cop-who-got-finger-stuck-in-trunk

As New York considers legalizing e-bikes and e-scooters, pedicab drivers in NYC see an opportunity for growth. The recent bill passed by the State Senate and Assembly may allow pedicabs to use pedal-assist technology, transforming them from tourist attractions to viable transit options for short-distance trips. Despite the legalization of pedal-assist e-bikes, city regulations currently prohibit their use by pedicab drivers due to a ban influenced by the taxi industry, limiting the pedicabs’ potential and drivers’ earnings. Advocates argue that legalizing e-assist for pedicabs could increase maneuverability in traffic, enhance driver earnings by allowing more rides per day, and make the industry more accessible. However, concerns exist within the pedicab community regarding the use of fully motorized e-bikes that do not require pedaling, emphasizing the need for a distinction in regulation to maintain safety and preserve the essence of bicycling.

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A sedan driver, after being involved in a minor collision with a van at 55th Street and Fifth Avenue, attempted to flee the scene despite the van driver’s efforts to stop him. The sedan driver, whose vehicle had TLC plates, injured the van driver in his escape. However, a pedicab driver named Cagdas Ozturk, along with other quick-acting bystanders, managed to halt the fleeing driver a block away from the incident. The confrontation and the subsequent citizen’s arrest of the sedan driver were captured in exclusive video footage, showing bystanders and Ozturk demanding the driver to stop. The van driver was seriously injured and taken to the hospital, while the Taxi & Limousine Commission is investigating the sedan driver, who is now under police custody with charges pending.

For more information:

https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/citizen-arrest-nyc-midtown-hit-and-run/1824741/

Pedicab operators in New York City are expressing frustration for being excluded from new regulations that allow certain low-speed e-bikes but not pedal-assist technology for pedicabs. The Department of Transportation, under Mayor Bill de Blasio’s directive, has made pedal-assist bikes legal, which require the rider to pedal to operate, but has kept throttle e-bikes, which can function without pedaling, illegal. This move aims to benefit commuters and delivery workers, but leaves pedicab operators at a disadvantage due to existing laws that mandate pedicabs to be “solely propelled by human power.” This regulation, enforced by the Department of Consumer Affairs, prevents pedicabs from utilizing pedal-assist e-bikes, limiting their efficiency and potential as a pollution-free transportation alternative. Council Member Rafael Espinal is sympathetic to the pedicab industry’s plight and is working on legislation to allow pedicab use of pedal-assist technology. The industry and advocates, including HOST (Hop On Short Trips), are calling for inclusive regulation that acknowledges pedicabs’ contribution to eco-friendly transportation and their hardworking operators. The city is open to public comments on the DOT proposal before a hearing scheduled for May 29 at 1:30 p.m.

For more information:

https://abc7ny.com/pedicab-transportation-dot-e-bikes/3507836/

Rudy Giuliani, along with two of his staffers, was involved in an incident where they accidentally struck a passing pedicab driver with an SUV door in Midtown. The event occurred as they were exiting a Cadillac SUV around 2:20 p.m. near the corner of 49th Street and Eighth Avenue. The 33-year-old pedicab driver involved in the incident was not injured and was treated at the scene. There were no passengers in the pedicab at the time, and no injuries were reported among Giuliani’s staff. No legal actions or summonses were filed immediately following the incident. Giuliani, who has recently taken a role as an attorney and adviser to President Trump, has been in the news for various reasons, including his statements about the investigation led by special counsel Robert Mueller into the 2016 election.

For more information:

https://www.nydailynews.com/2018/05/17/rudy-giuliani-and-two-staffers-strike-passing-pedicab-driver-while-opening-suv-door/