Pedicabs on a Manhattan street. Credit: Molly Kaszuba

A pedicab driver refused to stop and dragged a Park Officer approximately 40-60 feet on his pedicab. On May 9, 2018, Bent Greenberg, a pedicab driver, was stopped by two Park officers for soliciting customers in a prohibited area outside Tavern on the Green, Central Park at 67^th Street, Manhattan. Officer Moye approached Greenberg and asked for his identification papers. Greenberg told the officers he was leaving and began peddling. Officer Moye tried to stop Greenberg, but Greenberg accelerated in Officer Moye’s direction, nearly hit her, and fled. Officer Moye grabbed the metal bar on the back of the pedicab to stop Greenberg, but Greenberg continued pedaling. Officer Moye’s radio got tangled in the back wheel and she lost her footing, fell, and was dragged on the pavement for 40 to 60 feet until another Parks officer caught up and stopped Greenberg. The Parks officers served Greenberg with a summons, charging him with endangering another person and operating the pedicab in a reckless manner. (read more…)

Image credit: Jeff Hopkins

New Yorkers enjoy many new forms of transportation such as electric scooters, electric bicycles, hoverboards, skateboards, in-line skates, electric wheelchairs, and more. The laws governing these forms of transportation are confusing and mostly unenforced, if they are even enforceable. State laws and regulations on vehicle and roadway usage typically trump conflicting local laws, except in New York City, where the New York City Council has been given much authority to promulgate laws and regulations on the use of the City’s public roadways. (read more…)