Licensed Pedicab Drivers Rally Against Illegal Operators Flooding NYC Streets
Licensed pedicab drivers are sounding the alarm over a surge of unlicensed operators they say are scamming tourists, disrupting Broadway shows, and decimating their livelihood.
Members of the New York Pedicab Alliance (NYPA), representing over 200 licensed drivers, protested on the steps of City Hall last week, calling for stricter enforcement against what they describe as a growing “criminal culture” in the industry.
“There are about 850 licensed pedicabs in the city, but we estimate more than 1,500 are operating,” said NYPA President and 16-year veteran Makan Camara. “They’re hijacking our industry. We need fair pricing standards to earn back tourists’ trust.”
Business Down 60% Since Pandemic
Licensed drivers say their income has dropped by roughly 60% since the pandemic, blaming an influx of unlicensed operators who allegedly arrived in the city during COVID from countries such as Turkey and Tajikistan.
Kenneth Winter, a 21-year driver and NYPA representative, said the problem has escalated dramatically in the past three years. “This became the new gold rush. These rogue drivers take people for as much as possible. If there’s no enforcement, they just keep coming,” said Winter, who now works six to seven days a week, up to 12 hours a day, to earn about $200 at a flat $35-per-ride fare.
Reports of Price-Gouging and Tourist Scams
NYPA members say they have repeatedly reported price-gouging incidents to Midtown NYPD precincts, including cases where tourists were charged up to $1,000 per ride and tricked with illegal “per person” fees. One visitor was reportedly billed $968 for a single trip.
“The speakers they use are already illegal,” Winter added. “Confiscate them, especially if the drivers don’t even have a license.”
According to NYPA, the problem has become so widespread that Broadway actors have begun ad-libbing lines to the music blasted by the unlicensed pedicabs outside theaters.
Calls for Policy Changes
The group is also urging the city to:
- Legalize electric-assist pedicabs to reduce the physical strain of hauling passengers, which drivers say has caused long-term health issues.
- Address skyrocketing insurance costs, which have jumped from $700 per bike annually before the pandemic to as much as $5,000, currently offered by only one Florida-based insurer.
“We’ve had drivers leave the business because the physical toll is just too much without electric assist,” said one veteran driver known as Frankie Legs.
City and NYPD Response
An NYPD spokesperson said that so far this year, 1,851 pedicab-related summonses have been issued and 165 illegal pedicabs seized in Midtown North and South.
City Hall echoed concerns over unlicensed operators, with a spokesperson stating, “Mayor Adams agrees that illegally operated pedicabs have no place on our streets, particularly in Central Park, where it has been a persistent issue.”
To combat the problem, the city has launched a quality-of-life initiative with 1,500 officers dedicated to addressing noise, vending, and unlicensed pedicabs in the park. A specialized task force is also working with the Midtown Community Justice Center to target repeat offenders, and “educational flyers” will soon be distributed to help tourists avoid scams.
Camara said the fight is ultimately about protecting a legitimate industry and the tourists who rely on it. “Pedicabs are part of the New York City experience,” he said. “We just want to make sure it stays that way — the right way.”
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