NYC, where pedicabs are much more prevalent than in DC, is on the verge of passing a new law regulating the industry. Mayor Blooomberg supported it, but is now taking time to reconsider it.
One of Bloomberg's predecessors had a similar experience with a bicycle bill. In 1984, Mayor Ed Koch was poised to sign a law regulating the bike messenger business, but after hearing opponents at the bill-signing ceremony he put off a decision.
He asked his law department to review one area that concerned him and ended up signing the measure the next month.
I'm not sure what the law is supposed to accomplish
the bill, which would limit pedicabs in the five boroughs to 325 - eliminating at least 175. It would also ban electric assist, a small motor that makes it easier to pedal.
and..
The package of regulations would mandate steep insurance policies on an industry that has never suffered a fatality..., grant police the power to ban pedicabs from any part of the city for up to 14 days at a time and to close off midtown to pedicabs entirely during the Christmas holiday season.
But one city council member said it was supposed to maintain the value of a NYC taxi medallion - even though there's no evidence that the value has dropped in the 12 years that pedicabs have been operating. I'm no economist, but that sounds like bad policy. If the medallions are becoming less valuable because of reductions in taxi customers - you don't reestablish their value by removing the competition that customers have been voting for with their wallets. You do one of two things - let the value drop and tell taxis to provide better service, remove some medallions for the pool
Any time you see government regulating ANY industry, take a close look to see who is calling for the restrictions. It's the existing competitors EVERY TIME. The real answer is to do away with taxi medallions entirely. They protect incumbents, and keep new competitors from entering the industry. Ask someone in Montgomery County how well taxi licensing has gone for them; the county has rewarded their buddies at Briarwood for years, to the huge detriment of citizens of the county.
Posted by: BikeGuy | March 19, 2007 at 12:31 PM
The taxi medallion could not lose its value from the "threat of pedicabs" here in NYC. These are completely different machines, built for a different purpose.
My services are geared towards short runs where people enjoy the slighlty higher seating arrangement and cruising speed of the pedicab. The may be a tourist looking to see more of the city or a New Yorker looking to get somewhere without getting bounced around from aggressive driving.
The taxi industry here has a real threat to their medallion in the form of liveries. They have been vocal about such a threat, picking up support from the horse and carriage industry that has quieted down some.
This is a virtual fight that was created to squash any fears that pedicabs could be a future threat.
Maybe they came on too strong, because when the subject becomes the environment and the sustainability of our city, who is the real threat?
Latest news and information at www.PedicabNews.com
Posted by: Kate | March 20, 2007 at 02:43 PM