Pedicab Licensing Proposal

Four days after an accident in Brooklyn which seriously injured a pedicab driver, the mayor of NYC announced his proposal to regulate pedicabs.

The proposal would offer a 60-day window in which pedicab owners would need to register with the city, provide proof of ownership and insurance, and pass a safety examination before receiving a license to operate the tourist tricycles. The pedicabs would then need to display a fare card as well as owner and contact information in case of complaint.

Last week, another accident occurred on when a pedicab collided with a taxi on the Williamsburg Bridge. The driver of the pedicab and its two passengers were injured in the accident.

Advocates for regulation believe that pedicabs should not be allowed on bridges, but the city is powerless until a licensing procedure is established. When the city first tried to regulate pedicabs in 2007 by limiting the number of licenses it would issue, many drivers sued saying it would hurt business. This time around, the pedicabs seem open to the regulation and have no qualms about the proposal.