“The next three bills enhance regulation of the pedicab industry in our City.

“A few years ago, the City Council and our Administration worked to establish common-sense regulations for the pedicab industry, which mainly operates in and around Midtown Manhattan and Central Park.  Pedicabs are a favorite tourist attraction and an environmentally-friendly way to get around town, but until recently, they were entirely unregulated.  In addition to safety rules for pedicabs, such as equipment requirements and traffic rules, the Council and our Administration worked together to create a licensing plan, whereby the Department of Consumer Affairs would hold a two-month open enrollment period for pedicab business owners to register with the Department. At the end of that period, DCA stopped accepting applications for registration plates, and a cap was established on the number of available plates.  That cap, which has been set at 850 registration plates, is set to expire on May 21st.

“Introductory Number 467-A, sponsored by Council Members Garodnick, James, Seabrook, Williams, Comrie, Gennaro, Koslowitz, Gentile, Jackson, Cabrera, Halloran and Dickens, extends the current cap of 850 on pedicab registration plates.  The bill also provides for the Consumer Affairs Commissioner to issue additional plates in the event more than 10 plates become inactive due to revocations by the Department or pedicab businesses failing to renew their licenses.  It also renews a 30-plate cap on the number of registration plates that can be held by each pedicab business.

“Introductory Number 334-A is sponsored by Council Members Garodnick, Chin, Comrie, Fidler, Foster, Gennaro, Greenfield, Nelson, Koslowitz, Van Bramer, Gentile, Jackson, Cabrera, Koo, Halloran and Dickens.  This legislation applies No Stopping, No Standing, and No Parking regulations to pedicabs.  These regulations are essential for preserving the safety of all users of our transportation network, keeping pedicabs out of crosswalks, loading zones, and other spaces, and ensuring that everybody obeys the rules of the road.

“Introductory Number 466-A is also sponsored by Council Member Garodnick, as well as Council Members Foster, James, Mealy, Seabrook, Williams, Comrie, Gennaro, Koslowitz, Van Bramer, Gentile, Jackson, Cabrera, Halloran and Greenfield.  This legislation enacts additional mandatory penalties for pedicab drivers and business for certain violations.

“Specifically, the legislation requires the Department of Consumer Affairs to suspend a pedicab driver’s license for three months if the driver is operating without a valid motor vehicle license.  A second violation would result in permanent revocation of the license.  It would also require the Department to suspend a pedicab registration plate for one year in the event a pedicab is found to be in operation without functioning brakes or seatbelts three times during a 12-month period.  The bill also authorizes DCA and the Police Department to seize a pedicab if it does not have a valid registration plate affixed to the cab.  These regulations will have a deterrent effect, encouraging pedicab drivers and businesses to comply with current requirements, and will keep unqualified drivers off the streets.

“I would like to thank Consumer Affairs Commissioner Jonathan Mintz, Department of Transportation Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan, Police Commissioner Ray Kelly, Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe, and their staff for their work on these bills, along with my Office of City Legislative Affairs.  I would also like to thank City Council for approving this legislation.”