Kenan Duzenli supports dedicated pedicab relief stands
Kenan Duzenli, a pedicab driver since 2007, strongly supports Intro 1026 to create dedicated relief stands. He says designated curb space would protect metered parking revenue, reduce double-parking and gridlock, limit pedestrian conflicts, and make enforcement clearer.
Councilmember Brewer?
Thank you.
Thank you for this panel.
I'm going to bring up the next panel.
Max, oh, and we can...
Someone from staff here can get you connected to DCWP if you want to meet.
I know you requested that.
Yeah, we can, afterwards they can just give you contact information to meet with them.
Max Weisfeld, Keenan, Delensi, and Amadou Kasinu.
What's it on?
It will be done.
Whenever you're ready, sir, you can just begin.
And if anyone else wants to testify, they should sign up to testify.
We are getting towards the end of this.
So if you're interested in testifying, please fill out one of the cards.
Go ahead.
My name is Kenan Duzenli.
I have been working as a pedicab driver on the street since 2007.
I am here to strongly support Intro 126 to create dedicated relief stands.
Over the 19 years, I've been firsthand why this infrastructure is desperately needed, not just for the drivers, but for the entire city, especially in our busiest touristic place like Midtown and Times Square.
First, this bill protects customer parking and meter revenue in high-demand areas.
Currently, without designated zones, pedicabs have to take up standard metered spaces while waiting for fares.
By putting pedicabs specifically in designated curb spaces,
The city gets functional commercial staging around Times Square.
Second, it reduces mid-street traffic.
When we don't have a dedicated pull-off spot in heavy midtown traffic, drivers are forced to double park in the active lanes just to load and
unload passengers.
A marked designated curb space gets our pedicabs completely out of the traffic flow, instantly preventing gridlock behind us.
Third, Intro 1026 eliminates pedestrian conflict in heavily foot traffic
Places operated without official stands often have to idle near crosswalks or cluster near hotel doors.
Dedicated stand confine operators to a predictable footprint.
Fourth, this is an exceptional low-cost fix.
It only requires painting and signing on the curb to immediately clear up congested intersections in the heart of the city.
Finally, these zones will significantly streamline enforcement.
Right now, citing drivers for blocking the roadway creates legal gray areas.
With explicit designated spaces, enforcement officers will have clear-cut boundaries.
If an operator is idling outside the stand, it's an automatic enforceable citation.
Intro 1020 creates a safer, more predictable cityscape for everyone visiting Midtown while giving hardworking drivers a legal place to operate.
Thank you for your time.