The Rickshaws of New York

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The Rickshaws of New York
By Antonio Graceffo

There was a loud hollow thud, as I was violently thrown out of the saddle. Tomer expertly rode his bicycle out of the huge freight elevator. "Remember," he said, in his comical accent. "The pedi cab is much wider than a normal bicycle. So, so you have to allow more room when you’re taking corners."

I took my feet off the pedals, to get my composure back, and stepped right in a fresh pile of horse manure.

Two grooms, who were currying a carriage horse laughed at me. "What a clown." They said, in Spanish.

Pedi cabs, horses, Spanish grooms, manure, and carriages it was hard to believe I was in the middle of Hells Kitchen, New York City.

Picture the busy streets of midtown Manhattan jammed with rush hour traffic. A solid mass of frantic pedestrians rushes past the paralyzed cars. They are busy New Yorkers in business clothes in a hurry to catch the train, in a hurry to get to a meeting, in a hurry to get to dinner reservations. New Yorkers are always in a hurry to get somewhere. But how can you get across town fast when traffic is at a stand still and walking is just too slow?Stories : Articles : Photos : Authors : Map : Links : Archives : Search : Index : About Us