by Qiushi Li

Businesses in Central Park Close for the Pope’s Visit

Mike Poulat, a Turkish Muslim pedicab rider of the Central Park, was smoking on his bike, thinking about what to do on the coming Friday. Usually on Fridays, with lots of tourists and people on vacation, he can expect 400 dollars income. But thanks to Pope Francis’s coming, he will earn nothing but a blessing that day.

Central Park will be closed to the public from 81st Street south to 59th Street and from Central Park West east to 5th Avenue, from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. Only ticketed guests have access to part of the park. All kinds of businesses are also prohibited during the visit.
Central Park will be closed to the public from 81st Street south to 59th Street and from Central Park West east to 5th Avenue, from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. Only ticketed guests have access to part of the park. All kinds of businesses are also prohibited during the visit.

“NYPD and FBI told me not to work on Friday,” said Mr. Poulat, “No compensation, no income that day.” He is also the manager of a group of pedicab riders, responsible for renting the pedicab to new employed riders. “Someday you may make 400 dollars on Friday. Friday is usually the busiest day.”

Even though the park will be partly closed, pedicab riders are not allowed to operate on the Central Park north.

“There will be tickets for you. Fifty or a hundred dollars. We can only pick up customers in certain area, not even allowed to drop customers off halfway,” says Poulat. He agrees that papal visit will bring more customers to the park, which may benefit his business afterwards. But on Friday, he is forced to have a day off, with no pay.

Mr. Poulat and pedicab riders are not the only ones who risk losing money on Friday. Bike rental services in Central Park will also be restricted.

“How much are we going to lose on Friday? Like 1,200 dollars,” an employee of Bike and Roll answered while helping a kid put on his helmet. Central Park bike rental station is located outside the park, but their bikes are not allowed to ride in other places.

“We are part of the park. They are the bosses. They have the final say.” Also, there’s no any reimbursement.

 

Carriages owners share information in their MMS group.
Carriages owners share information in their MMS group.

 

“As a Christian, I could only see Pope Francis on television. And now he brings blessing to us. Which one is more important, Jesus or money?” says Gerald Ledbetter, a Central Park carriage owner. He said he didn’t care how much he was going to lose during the papal visit. “I must see the pope.”