Pedicab Scam
There are many street salespeople around the entrances of Central Park running a "bait and switch" scam on people seeking horse carriage rides.
These people are not authorized to sell horse carriage rides even if they represent themselves as managers of the carriages or have a license displayed around their neck.
Some of these street salespeople will overcharge you to walk you over to the carriage horses. (As of June 2025 NYC sets the horse carriage rate at $72.22 the first 20 minutes or fraction thereof and $28.89 for each additional 10 minutes or fraction thereof.)
These street salespeople often tell potential customers false or misleading information about horse carriage ride options in order to make a pedicab ride sound more appealing.
The street scammers may or may not be standing near a pedicab, but they will not be directly next to a carriage horse. Many of them are near The Plaza Hotel, The Ritz Carlton Hotel, The New York Athletic Club, Grand Army Plaza, Doris C. Freedman Plaza, Columbus Circle, the entrances to Central Park along Central Park South between 5th and 8th Ave, as well as the blocks approaching these areas.
You should only speak to a horse carriage driver standing directly next to their horse or sitting on the carriage:
The inaccurate information you may hear from street salespeople isn't limited to, but often includes:
"Carriage rides are charged per person."
(They are charged per ride.)
"Carriage rides only offer a 15-20 minute ride."
(They offer longer rides including popular 45-60 minute options.)
"Carriage rides only go around the park and not inside it."
(The majority of all carriage ride options are inside Central Park.)
"Carriage rides are only available by booking in advance."
(Walk up rides are available without a reservation.)
"Carriage rides only accommodate 2 people."
(Carriage rides accommodate up to 4 adults where children under 12 years old are counted as half an adult.)
"Pedicab rides are better, faster, and will show you more."
(Pedicabs actually mimic the same route as horse carriages on the carriage drives and Central Park was designed to be slowly unfolded from the angle of a horse carriage.)
If you choose to take a pedicab ride make sure there is a visible license sticker on the front handle bars (license stickers change yearly; 2026 is blue), no motor on the pedicab (they're prohibited in NYC and void insurance coverage in an accident), you aren't riding over capacity (they have a 3 passenger max), the rate per minute is clearly displayed on the side of the pedicab (pedicabs are to charge per minute and not per person), they don't play amplified music (it's prohibited in the park for being disruptive to other visitors), and if you take two pedicabs that they don't ride side by side (this creates congestion endangering other park users.)
If you run into illegal pedicab activity or the street scam you may report it by calling 311 if you are a New Yorker, using the 311 app or the 311 website if you are a visitor.