Success is not so sweet anymore

Food trucks are everywhere in NYC. Ranging from the local Halal cart or new entrant Kimchi Taco, they serve a variety of food which is relatively inexpensive, delicious and quick.

These trucks are now such an integral part of NYC - and they are success stories. Or they have been. Till now.

Crain’s New York Business reports that an almost unheard-of parking rule prevents trucks from selling food in most commercial districts. Commercial districts are the main markets - several office-goers, shoppers and tourists eat at these carts.

The obscure parking rule has been on the books for decades, but earlier this year, a judge ruled that the regulation that bars vending from metered parking spaces applied to food trucks. Given that almost all parking on midtown Manhattan streets is metered these days, the ruling saw trucks lose their most lucrative spots, where they had built up a following of loyal customers practically overnight.

Meanwhile, Columbia Spectator reported that food trucks will now be surveyed over three weeks in Community Board 7 to check if they complied with regulations. Residents have complained about the fumes and the noise.

“The idea is to get an accounting of what we have and where it is,” Andrew Albert, co-chair of the CB7 transportation committee, said. “We’re not trying to kill them—we just want an idea of what we have and how we can make it best serve the neighborhood.”

Food truck owners are worried. 70 percent of the members of the Food Truck Association have seen a drop in revenue since the parking law was enforced. They have also engaged lobbyists to discuss parking and other regulatory issues with City Hall.

The Food Truck Association has setup a petition page on their site to get public support for food trucks. Their latest tweet pretty much states that.

Come out and support your favorite #foodtruck today for #lunch! What are you eating, #foodies? #nyc

What does this mean for New Yorkers like paristosyd who posted this on her Tumblr :

Another thing i love about New York City; Food trucks.

It is so innovative, handy and inexpensive to have so many food trucks roaming around American cities.

They might have to go all the way to Chelsea, Flatiron or the Upper West Side where the rules are not enforced.

Then again, they may not find their favorite truck there.