Councilman Daniel Garodnick highlighted the case of Brenda Rodriguez’s family, who were charged $442 for a 12-minute pedicab ride in Midtown Manhattan, as an example of “predatory, deceptive practices” in the pedicab industry. New regulations proposed by the City Council’s Committee on Consumer Affairs aim to prevent such price gouging by requiring pedicabs to charge by the minute, with clearly visible rate postings and timers. The goal is to eliminate surprise fees that often shock tourists. The New York City Pedicab Owners’ Association supported the changes, acknowledging that price gouging has damaged the industry’s reputation. Some owners and drivers suggested that previous regulations allowed scams to flourish, and they advocated for clearer, more straightforward rate displays to protect consumers.
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