The city is reining in rogue rickshaws with a new bill that passed a key City Council committee today.
Under the legislation, which Mayor Bloomberg supports, pedicab operators will only be allowed to charge a rate per minute, and must print the fee on the side of the three-wheeled rides.
Currently drivers can charge a minimum fee per passenger, and some renegade drivers have charge $100 or more per rider, stunning unassuming tourists who think they’re getting a scenic ride of Manhattan.
“Deception must not be a legitimate business practice in New York City,” said Councilman Dan Garodnick (D-Manhattan), who sponsored the bill.
The legislation passed the Council Consumer Affairs Committee 7-0 and will be approved by the full Council tomorrow.
Passengers also must get rate cards delineating the fees, under the bill, which will be in effect sometime next spring.
“If somebody wants to pay an exorbitant amount for a pedicab ride that should be their prerogative. I wouldn’t do it, but that’s their prerogative. What we want to do is eliminate the surprises at the end,” Garodnick said.
The councilman, who chairs the committee, said the city still needs to work on regulating the rickshaw industry, which is famous for driving recklessly and ripping off tourists.
“If we can get the pricing issue under control we’re significantly along in the process but once you close one loophole you fear that there are others that will open,” he said. “It’s still an emerging industry so we have been trying to regulate as the issues have become clearer.”
Riders who fear they’ve been ripped off should call 311, Garodnick said.
Meanwhile Councilman Oliver Koppell (D-Bronx) said he is introducing a bill to shift the regulation of pedicabs from the city Department of Consumer Affairs to the Taxi & Limousine Commission.