A group of tourists from Pennsylvania, celebrating a 15th birthday, were charged nearly $500 for a 15-block pedicab ride in Midtown Manhattan by an unlicensed driver, who has been described as a “bully.” The fare for the 13-person group, distributed across three pedicabs, came to a total of $492 for a journey that industry experts say should have cost around $72. The incident, which occurred on October 22, highlights a recurring issue with pedicab scams exploiting tourists due to the lack of a fare cap and clear rate posting requirements. The driver, identified as Samad Mansurov, took a longer route to inflate the cost, charging $7 per minute plus a surcharge for extra passengers, leading to a 21-minute ride costing the exorbitant fee. Despite attempts to argue, the driver became very aggressive. The New York Pedicab Network, an industry group, criticizes such deceptive practices and calls for a fare cap of $3 a minute to prevent exploitation. The City’s Consumer Affairs Department confirmed Mansurov’s license expired in 2014, and City Hall stated that multiple agencies are working to enforce regulations within the pedicab industry to protect riders.
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