Publication

Fixing the Pedicab Problem: A Roadmap to Reform

May 4, 2026

The 8 Action Steps

  • Move oversight to the Taxi and Limousine Commission,

  • Standardize rates and mandate meters,

  • Hold vehicle owners accountable,

  • Legalize safe electric motors and ban unsafe ones,

  • Create a consistent civil enforcement structure,

  • Reform court processes,

  • Create basic driver support infrastructure,

  • And ensure accessible insurance premiums to encourage legal operation.

A Roadmap to Safer Pedicabs

New York City’s pedicab industry is fundamentally broken. Lack of regulation and business enforcement has created over-reliance on the courts and the criminal justice system, which have struggled to respond effectively, leaving community members and drivers no better off. Over 2,000 cases related to pedicabs cycled through the Midtown Community Justice Center in 2025—in response, we partnered with the Midtown-area City Council delegation to host a round table with key stakeholders to discuss the industry’s problems and surface solutions.

Out of the round table came the recommendations in this report: Fixing the Pedicab Problem: A Roadmap to Reform. The report, which was written in collaboration with the Office of Council Member Gale Brewer, the Times Square Alliance, and the Central Park Conservancy, presents eight action steps, including achievable changes in legislation, policy, oversight, enforcement, and infrastructure, that will allow the pedicab industry to thrive.