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NYC Council meetings, chaptered and linked by time.

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Q&A

Epstein asks panel about meter and price-cap support

New York City Council · Oct 7, 2026 · starts 1:36:48 · 1 min 55 sec

Epstein asks whether the panel supports a taxi-style meter with a base fare and per-minute charge. Makan Camara says the New York Pedicab Alliance supports price clarity and meters, and Central Park operators already quote flat fees.

Harvey D. Epstein

And so you guys support the idea of like a meter like a cab has where it would just say, you know, you get in and it's $5 for one to make it a number of $5 to get in.

Harvey D. Epstein

But every minute after there's an additional cost.

Member of the Public - Makan Camara

Yes.

Member of the Public - Makan Camara

You know, I want to speak for the NIPA.

Member of the Public - Makan Camara

Yes, we do support like, you know, the price system that's going to, you know, kind of because we want clarity.

Member of the Public - Makan Camara

You know, as Kenny said, 80 percent or I said 90 percent of the people from NIPA are Central Park people.

Member of the Public - Makan Camara

We 100% we people know exactly how much they're gonna pay because we agree on things you know what they want to do because for people who are familiar with Central Park you know small loop you know the you know lower loop whatever so we we

Member of the Public - Makan Camara

tell them exactly how it's going to be, or food that are bad apples, you know, and that's why we created an iPad.

Member of the Public - Makan Camara

That's why we want to work with good people.

Member of the Public - Makan Camara

So, and just to go back to the previous question about why, you know, this problem license versus unlicensed thing.

Member of the Public - Makan Camara

One of the things is people who don't have, for example, were not licensed, and they're not afraid of anything.

Member of the Public - Makan Camara

For example,

Member of the Public - Makan Camara

If, for example, the NYPD sees your bike with, you know, unlicensed bike and stuff like that, a couple of weeks, a couple of days, you get your bike back.

Member of the Public - Makan Camara

So then, and they, because we know each other, you know, so people, they say, why would I bother to even do this while you guys are having license and you were doing the same thing?

Member of the Public - Makan Camara

We all, so we want, what we want as a night part, you know, we just make sure if somebody's bike being seized, you know, with fake plate or whatever, and there should be some type of laws or rules

Member of the Public - Makan Camara

to make sure these people, either they have to come with, you know, the right plate or something, or unless, you know, because otherwise they're going to keep doing whatever they're doing.

Member of the Public - Makan Camara

If they're going to give their bike back in two weeks or three weeks, it will go nowhere.