4/4 Verify the #pedicab has a city issued registration sticker (at the front of the pedicab on the steerer tube), usually 4 numbers on a vertical sticker; take a photo of the driver as you begin your trip, in case you need this in the future; check for a valid driver license.
3/4 Suggestions for a safe #pedicab experience: – verify the pedicab has rate cards displayed conspicuously (required by law); verify there is a timer to track the time, and watch that the driver engages it when starting the trip.
2/4 Page 2: "Pedicab drivers intentionally covered up the mandatory per-minute rate sign or stated that the ride was charged by time but failed to provide the rate." Nearly every #pedicab I see operating right now is lacking proper DCWP-required signage.
1/4 Encouraged by seeing this NY City Council report by the office of Oversight and Investigations on misleading and/or unauthorized operators, including #pedicabs. Awareness is key, and they went out in the field to find out. https://t.co/iu13UkQ6fb
On an adjacent note, apparently there is a bill before city council Intro 0064-2026 (a bit like the expired bill about buffer zones near theaters). Creates #pedicab restricted zones in the theatre district." Only 1 sponsor. https://t.co/AihBRhU9rT
3/3 One outcome of Intro 0847 could be advising summer tourists to negotiate total fares with #pedicab drivers, e.g., offering cash & avoiding some of the issues with instant electronic transfers, such as hidden charges or excessive (aka absurd) tips only discovered much later.
2/3 Press release: https://t.co/qCnhOWqJQw Interestingly, only 1 of the sponsors of pending #pedicab rate Intro 0673 signed onto 0847. 0847 apparently has been enacted, waiting for the Mayor's signature.
1/3 City Council press release: "Intro 847-A...would require the Dept. of Consumer and Worker Protection to establish and implement an outreach and education program [re:] scams targeting tourists...includ[ing]...identification of and rate information for #pedicab drivers."
Here's one to watch at city council: a bill proposing to set #pedicab fares (as a result of ongoing sketchy behavior by many non-compliant operators). Intro 0673-2026. Interestingly, the 2 sponsors' districts are far from midtown. https://t.co/2uaVHR0Vv0
3/3 "[P]roposal calls for a shift to a civil, rather than criminal, enforcement system." It was understood that enforcement went to criminal court as so many pedicabbers were presenting foreign licenses. End this practice and require a U.S. motor vehicle license. @JulieMenin
2/3 There were many hearings chaired by former council member @DanGarodnick on proposed rates & methods for calculating. We suggest reviewing those transcripts, available online. Also NYPD testified they cannot issue a ticket to foreign licenses. @JulieMenin
1/3 Legacy operators & founders have long sought to work with elected officials & NYC agencies to improve the pedicab ecosystem, beginning with the NY Pedicab Owners' Association (https://t.co/zDFcfAEObW) during the initial regulatory push. @JulieMenin
https://t.co/eX5y5n4dVr
Regarding the fleet safety issues and the 2000+ safety incidents over the last 3 years mentioned in this article, can a release of details be compelled for public viewing? @StreetsblogNYC https://t.co/ghJ7Qez11j
1 of 2: Pro tip: If you let NYPost publish your name and photo, then it's best to be 100% compliant as to your equipment, etc. Props to all workers enduring the cold this week (!), but the rate card in the article is not the type required by the city.
https://t.co/hSbYoAqVkw
2 of 2: on a general note, pedicab owner and driver credentials can be verified at the DCWP license lookup: https://t.co/x2Dx57SNPK Simply type in a driver name or business to confirm licensing status. Data also available via https://t.co/0G2W6R1AUr
@greggzuman "After...complaints from tourists, [NYC] released...guidelines for visitors to consider before hopping in a pedicab...[requiring] pedicabs to display prices...and have a digital timer with an official seal. Pedicabs...can’t charge a different rate for multiple people, tax rides."