Mayor Michael Bloomberg signed a new law aimed at regulating pedicab fares to prevent overcharging, following incidents like a Texas family being charged over $400 for a short ride. The new rules, effective in six months, will require pedicabs to charge by the minute with visible timers, replacing the current confusing system of per-block and per-passenger fees. The New York City Pedicab Owners’ Association supports the changes, believing it will help curb overcharging, though some drivers, like Ibrahim Donmez, argue that the rules won’t standardize fares due to varying pedaling speeds. Donmez is considering legal action. This follows earlier regulations in 2007 and 2009 that set licensing, safety standards, and capped the pedicab fleet at 850.
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