Opinion

Mike’s bike balk

Mayor Bloomberg yesterday was moments from signing a much-needed bill that would protect tourists from price-gouging pedicab drivers.

Then his gears got stuck.

“It’s one of these things that some of the newspapers have railed against,” mused the mayor as he refused to make the bill law.

“I just don’t understand that.”

Be careful, Mike — you’ll pull a hamstring from all that backpedaling.

Bloomberg initially supported legislation (approved unanimously by the City Council) to require all pedicabs to carry timers, charge riders by the minute and display their rates prominently.

The bill was born out of reporting by The Post’s Jennifer Fermino this summer about a Texas family that got charged $442 for a 12-minute ride. Their driver scammed them with an unspoken $100-per-person flat fee.

This bill would make that impossible.

But bike-happy Bloomberg won’t bite.

No surprise: The mayor doesn’t spend much time meandering through Midtown, so he probably has no idea of the constant dangers that traffic-jamming pedicabbies pose to drivers and pedestrians alike.

And his sympathy was in short supply this summer when he learned about the routine price-gouging. His advice to tourists: Tell rip-off artists to “stick it” when they present an exorbitant bill — or dial 911 when pedal-pushers pull a fast one.

But no one should have to worry that they’ll be taken for a ride when they’re taken for a ride — or have to call the cops for help when they venture near Midtown.

That’s why laws exist.

Back in 2007, Bloomberg pulled the same stunt with another pedicab bill, deciding at a bill-signing ceremony to withdraw his support. He later vetoed that bill.

Now, five years later, problems are still rampant within the pedicab industry.

Bloomberg says he’ll decide by tomorrow whether to approve the council’s bill. But what more proof does he need?

Pick up the pen and sign, Mr. Mayor.

It’s as easy as riding a bike.