Gothamist: City Council Passes Pedicab Crackdown

Brightliner

Thu, 01 Mar 2007 18:52:11 -0500

Leroy Comrie is an idiot. Sez he: under state law, the use of electric motors would cause the pedicabs to be classified as motorized vehicles. As such, they could not be registered because they lack the safety features required of cars and trucks. Typical idiot politician who doesn't know what he's talking about. Public Law 107-319 (formerly the HR 727 bill) covers that. Pursuant to Executive Order No. 12988, the (Consumer Products Safety) Commission states the preemptive effect of this regulation as follows. Section 1 of the Act provides that its requirements "shall supercede any State law or requirement with respect to low-speed electric bicycles to the extent that such State law or requirement is more stringent than the Federal law or requirements referred to in subsection (a)[the Commission's regulations on bicycles at 16 CFR part 1512].'' Public Law No. 107-319, section 1, 116 Stat. 2776. IANAL, but I think the city can be sued for trying to say NYS regulations overrule this Federal law, in direct contradition to that clause above.

hedgehog25

Thu, 01 Mar 2007 14:54:23 -0500

What better for the city than to kill off non-polluting vehicles by regulation. That's our beloved bureaucracy, our forward-thinking city council.

smitty

Thu, 01 Mar 2007 14:53:16 -0500

Party bikes were banned outright as part of this plan.

Dude

Thu, 01 Mar 2007 14:19:53 -0500

So when is the city council gonna crack down on the partybikes? Filled with overweight and crazed midwest tourists, they are accidents waiting to happen! But I do favor having some rickshaws powered by the homeless!

nobody in particular

Thu, 01 Mar 2007 13:53:20 -0500

Murray - you mean exactly like motor vehicles do?

Murray Hillster

Thu, 01 Mar 2007 13:41:05 -0500

Honestly, having worked over by Rockefeller Center during the holidays, I can see why they chose to ban the pedicabs. They are out of control. It's a given that the area is going to be mobbed with tourists. The pedicabs add to the mess by parking in swarms on the street and sidewalk, or pacing alongside pedestrians attempting to pick up a fare. However, an outright ban is too much. They should do the same thing to the pedicabs as they do to the "real" cabs: set up pedicab lines. Line up the pedicabs and make them wait for fares originating from a particular zone.

Kevin Bracken

Thu, 01 Mar 2007 13:03:19 -0500

This really makes me roll my eyes... 345 for the entire city? Sounds like the Cabaret law. Shouldn't we try to replace cabs and cars with human powered transport?

t

Thu, 01 Mar 2007 12:34:04 -0500

pedicab owners have no problem with more regulation. most of the problems they have with the bill stem from the ban in midtown. from the Times: Chad Marlow, who represents the New York City Pedicab Owners Association, said the association agrees with much of the legislation, but plans to file a lawsuit challenging some elements of it. He said it believes that the Council was within its rights to impose a cap as the city does with taxis, but that the restriction on electric motors and the provision giving the police the power to ban pedicabs from Midtown run afoul of the law.

g

Thu, 01 Mar 2007 12:30:14 -0500

Few of the pedicab owners are against regulations that include insurance, inspection, and adherence to existing traffic laws. But what is uncalled for is the ban on pedicabs in midtown during the holidays. Pedicabs hardly cause more congestion...cars and taxis do! While I'm sure anyone can anecdotally describe close calls with pedicabs, statistics are a better measure. How many accidents are caused by taxis every day? We should be doing more to allow these quiet, non-polluting vehicles space on the road. Yes, they should obey traffic laws, so enforce that instead of banning them outright.

doc

Thu, 01 Mar 2007 12:13:12 -0500

what you are complaining about are already on the books as traffic violations, this bill adds nothing to that.

Brad

Thu, 01 Mar 2007 12:07:32 -0500

The fact of the matter is that these VEHICLES should be regulated. I used to live at 49th and 8th and these things were a continual nuisance. They are constantly being driven against traffic causing both car and pedestrian obstructions. I think anything that is driven on the road and occupies more than the width of an average pedestrian should have to conform to motor vehicle regulations. In addition they should NOT be allowed to park on the sidewalk as they take up the entire width of the pavement- again impeding pedestrian traffic. This legislation was both needed and welcome!Mid-towners REJOICE!!!

Brad

Thu, 01 Mar 2007 12:03:26 -0500

lben

Thu, 01 Mar 2007 11:47:50 -0500

why do we have a city council? Can they be anymore of a joke? Its hard finding one member who is not a buffoon. I'm so glad they earn such big salaries to debate banning words and regulating pedicabs... real pressing issues.

get 'em off the street!

Thu, 01 Mar 2007 11:33:10 -0500

Are you telling me these pedicab menaces were not insured?!?!?! I should've sued the crap outta them!!