Vending the city: Mapping the policy, positioning and policing of vending in New York City

Abstract

Policies on street vending are often made without any in-depth understanding of how vending navigates the space of the city or interacts with the larger urban fabric. This project attempts to overcome this knowledge gap through empirical analysis of administrative data, GIS mapping and data visualization to uncover the unique interactions street vending has with each neighborhood’s socio-spatial environment, resulting in the creation of diverse vending cultures. By recognizing this vibrancy and untangling the determinants of the spatial landscape of vending rule enforcement, this work can be used to advocate for a fairer and more effective regulatory schema of informal commerce.