Every day, New York City’s 80,000 Uber and Lyft drivers do the essential work of keeping our city moving. We move more than half a million people daily — getting kids to school, seniors to doctor appointments, workers to their jobs, and tourists to our landmarks. But while rideshare drivers are relied on to serve the city, New York City has failed to meet even our most basic needs: a place to park so we can take a break.
We’re not asking for luxury. We’re asking for dignity. We’re asking for the right to take a bathroom break without risking a $115 ticket. We’re asking to stretch our legs, grab a meal, or pray — like any other worker in this city can do. They are basic human rights. And yet in 2025, for-hire vehicle drivers in the greatest city in the world still have no place to park to take a work break.
That’s why we at the Independent Drivers Guild are calling on the City Council to pass Intro 1000, our common-sense bill that would allow for-hire vehicle (FHV) drivers to pay for up to 30 minutes of time in existing commercial vehicle parking spaces, up to four times a day.
Let’s be clear: New York City currently offers a mere 31 parking zones for 80,000 rideshare drivers. That’s one space for every 2,580 drivers. Meanwhile, there are thousands of commercial parking spots in Manhattan that sit unused for large portions of the day. This bill would unlock those underutilized spots and allow our city’s drivers to function like human beings — not forced to go without rest, food, or basic hygiene for 12-hour shifts.
The current system has real, devastating consequences. Drivers go hours — sometimes five or six — without access to a restroom or a chance to stretch. A lot of drivers avoid drinking water all day so they won’t have to go. Some skip meals to avoid losing income while circling for parking. Many drivers suffer from health conditions like diabetes, and the lack of access makes managing those conditions nearly impossible. There is even a name for the health crisis this creates: Taxicab Syndrome. It’s taking years off our lives.
But this isn’t just a driver problem — it’s a New York City problem. The shortage of legal parking forces thousands of drivers to circle blocks endlessly looking for a spot or to leave Manhattan entirely to find one. That means more traffic, more pollution, more wear-and-tear on our roads, and longer wait times for passengers. It’s bad for drivers, bad for riders, and bad for the city.
The Council bill, Intro 1000, offers a win-win solution. It opens up access to existing underused commercial parking — not by removing anyone else’s rights, but by letting drivers pay to use the spaces when they’re vacant. It improves public safety by reducing distracted and fatigued driving. It reduces traffic by eliminating the constant hunt for parking and unnecessary bridge and tunnel crossings. It increases city revenue through additional meter payments. And most importantly, it treats rideshare drivers like human beings who deserve the right to take a break.
Together with New York leaders, our members have achieved meaningful improvements in the lives of drivers before. We petitioned for and won the nation’s first minimum wage for Uber and Lyft drivers. We won bathroom access at airport lots. We’ve helped thousands of drivers dispute unfair treatment from Uber and Lyft with the nation’s first worker-led process to appeal rideshare app firings or “deactivations.” We launched mental health support for drivers facing an epidemic of stress, burnout, and even suicide.
We’re proud of the progress we’ve made — but we cannot stop until basic human needs like restroom access and meal breaks are treated not as luxuries, but as rights.
Councilman Justin Brannan’s leadership on this issue has been invaluable, and we’re grateful for the support of co-sponsors on the transportation committee. But now the full Council must act.
New Yorkers believe in fairness. We believe in treating workers with dignity. And we believe that no one should have to risk a fine or their health just to use the bathroom. It’s time to pass Int. 1000 — for the drivers, for the riders, and for the health and safety of our city.
Sexton is the president of the Independent Drivers Guild, the nation’s largest rideshare driver organization which represents and advocates for more than 400,000 rideshare drivers, including more than 80,000 Uber and Lyft drivers in New York City alone.
