Pedicab Peddlers Chafe Under New Central Park Rules

Pedicab operators like Jennifer Aniston are dreading the new restrictions.

The Parks Department is about to impose heavy new regulations on the pedicab operators in Central Park, but the New York City Pedicab Owners Association is begging the city to backpedal. Under the new rules, pedicabs will be forbidden from areas where taxis and carriages make pick-ups; required to operate in the right lane of traffic, not the bike lane on the left; and, weirdly, prohibited from displaying advertisements at times when other motor vehicles are barred from the park.

Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe tells the Post the rules are necessary because "there's been a huge proliferation of pedicabs in Central Park, and only in Central Park." But Chad Marlow, a lawyer for the NYC Pedicab Owners Association says, "It's somewhat hypocritical for the city as a whole to be promoting pedicabs to tourists—and the mayor himself calling them a unique part of the fabric of this city—and then at the same time, the Parks Department turns around and basically bans us at their whim."

Marlow also calls the advertising restriction "a completely nonsensical rule" because operators won't be allowed to display ads during weekends when the park is car-free: "Literally it's obscene. If you try to make a little extra money [from ads], you're welcome to it, but you can't set foot in our parks? That's ridiculous. There's no rationale other than to single out pedicabs." The rules go into effect in November after what's sure to be a spirited public hearing October 21st at the Chelsea Recreation Center.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By John Del Signore in News on September 22, 2009 1:20 PM

Comments [rss]

mcsladek

This is exactly what I was afraid of when they passed the new regulation law.

http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-3139-NY-Bicycle-Transportation-Examiner~y2009m9d5-Pedicab-regulation-bill-passes-but-industry-inequalities-remain

In section 20-259, e-f of Local Law 19, it allows for officials to restrict pedicabs in “unusually heavy pedestrian or vehicular traffic," though that measure was likely intended for parades or emergencies, not cabs and carriages. They are also banned from bike lanes. The Parks Dept capitalized upon gray area in the law in order to (once again!) cater to yellow cabbies.

I agree that Central should be car-free. I also think this ban on ads is nuts. It's how the pedicab companies earn revenue to support their operations.

ribaldry

Pedicabs are a real pain, and most of the drivers are very rude. I nearly get hit by one every time i enter the park.

imogdi

And their credit card machines hardly ever work.

NannyState

And they take forever to get to JFK.

jongeeting

The city should ban cars from Central Park instead. That would free up space for the pedicabs and other non-polluting transportation options. Why would the city work against zero-emissions transportation in favor of cars? It sucks to bike and run next to them. Kick them out and give Central Park back to the people.

ProcedureTurn

I dislike these pedicab operators. They tend to get in everyones way and are unsafe in their operations. More regulation!!!

Matt Joyce

Pedicabs should be made illegal and the operation of one a crime punishable by 15 years of hard labor.

pal

the pedicabs are actually allowed to display advertisements at times when other motor vehicles are barred from the park - as long as they are bloomberg ads.

blondeinthecity

please make these pedicabbers get a license... or at least take a safety course. they are kamikazes!

just saying

Yeah, like that's worked so well for the medallion cabbies.

Rocknrope

Who wants to bet someone smelled that bike seat after she got off of it?

NannyState

Probably more pedicure than pedicab...

Neil Epstein

Thanks for going there?

longacre

To the sniffer's chagrin, it still reeked of the Ugandan man who has been sitting on it for the past 6 months.

drewo

Thanks for tipping us off on your particular fetish Rock.

felixthecat2

They singled out pedicabs because the carriage drivers/owners don't want the competition. The parks department and NYPD go after the pedicabs nonstop yet overlook the carriage drivers talking on the phone while on the horse buggy or making illegal U-turns and crossing a red light. They overlook the carriage parked in a bus lane and doubled park. disgusting. It shows how corrupt Quinn and the city really is that supports a cruel industry such as the horse carriage industry but harasses a green industry such as the pedicab. PURE CORRUPTION