Rogue Pedicabs Cause Commotion on Broadway
It seems Broadway is bustling with more than just theatergoers these days. The so-called “Rogue” pedicabs, which blast New York-themed tunes throughout the theater district, are reportedly causing disruptions during performances. This scenario is forcing actors and staff to navigate busy sidewalks and unpredictable traffic.
Kenneth Winter, a representative from the New York Pedicab Alliance, mentioned that things spiraled out of control last year. Some performers have even joined in, singing “Empire State of Mind” outside these pedicabs.
“It happens quite often. They park right in front of the theaters, waiting for the shows to let out,” Winter remarked. He likened their hustle to that of piranhas, aiming to maximize their earnings for each ride.
Security guard Pete Tar, 53, from Velasco Theatre, told the Post, “Yeah, you can hear that inside the theater. I work by the stage door, and they still come outside, even while the show is ongoing.” He added that when they ask the pedicabs to turn it down, the drivers often respond rudely.
Another guard from the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre echoed these sentiments, noting that complaints about the noise have become quite common. He remarked, “[The pedicabs] create a lot of issues.”
Addressing this nuisance, city council bills are now on the table, aimed at tackling “excessive noise and harassment” by prohibiting all pedicabs from operating within 50 feet of theaters.
Council member Eric Bocker, who is co-sponsoring the bill, stressed that “Broadway performers shouldn’t have to compete with loud pedicab speakers.” He expressed hope that the bill would establish necessary boundaries, ultimately improving the experience for theatergoers.
Winter pointed out that his pedicab rides are a fixed $35, but he emphasized that the issue grows larger when some drivers charge customers upwards of $300 for just a short ride.
John Abaz, a 26-year-old pedicab driver from Turkey, admitted to blasting music to grab potential customers’ attention. “When I play music, I attract more people,” he explained. At the same time, he argued that it’s unfair to penalize all drivers for the actions of a few, noting that restricting their waiting area would devastate their business.
Winter also believes there are already laws in place to curb disruptive pedicabs, stating, “We don’t support this bill at any level. It’s just not reasonable.” He hopes for tougher enforcement from the NYPD, who currently confiscate unlicensed vehicles but tend to return them afterward.
A spokesperson from the NYPD confirmed that they are tackling various quality-of-life issues across New York City, including the disturbances caused by these pedicabs.
In Midtown, statistics revealed that 425 pedicabs were seized and nearly 1,000 subpoenas issued between late last year and early this year. However, it appears that those drivers often reclaim their vehicles after facing a subpoena.
David Stuart, president of two local block associations, stated that it’s not just the noise from pedicabs affecting theater patrons. Tom Harris, from the Times Square Alliance, mentioned that when shows let out, the congestion caused by these pedicabs can lead to traffic jams, forcing more people onto the streets.
Yet, not everyone seems bothered by the situation. Actor Ezra Knight, set to perform in “Othello,” simply stated, “I don’t care about the pedicabs.” David Weber, a theatergoer, expressed a similar sentiment, noting that noise is just part of the New York experience. “If you focus on the noise, you’ll get distracted,” he remarked.
Melanie Trintin, 43, who had just exited “The Lion King,” described calls to ban pedicabs as “the silliest thing I’ve heard all day.” She added, “If you can’t handle the noise, maybe it’s time to move to the country.”
