General Cycling Discussion - CNN stories about pedicabs.

The story says the number of pedicabs are out of control in New York City. For those New Yorkers , is it? The report says there are 650 of them and the city wants to reduce them to 300. Mostly, They appeared to be using the bike lanes. I'd think they would have the ability to skirt about congestion , not contribute to it?

The story says the number of pedicabs are out of control in New York City. For those New Yorkers , is it? The report says there are 650 of them and the city wants to reduce them to 300. Mostly, They appeared to be using the bike lanes. I'd think they would have the ability to skirt about congestion , not contribute to it?

Two words: (well actually 3) Perceived liability and greed on the part of the taxi cab owners.

Aaron:)

Hell. From my experience. Half the time in NYC, during rush hour, you can't hail a cab, no matter how long you wait. And if you do, they can't move about in gridlock. The meter runs as you are stuck in traffic.

You going to link the story or what?

^. Sorry. I saw it live on TV news . I'll have to search CNN on line news to see if it is repeated there. Maybe it is not. ?

I often wonder about the passengers. No one appears to wear helmets or seat belts. I wonder if there has been collisions between the pedicabs and cars.

Anyway, I would much rather ride the bus or subway. I lived in NYC for 21 years, and visit every year, so buses and subways don't bother me.

FWIW, a local guy here in Madison, WI started up a pedicab company and it is now for sale. My guess is the idea did not go over too well.

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/us/2007/11/04/roth.pedicab.fight.CNN?iref=videosearch

I like the part where the activist says they don't add to the congestion because they can go around traffic. They don't just go around traffic, they just effing ignore it.
I saw a near miss at 49th and 5th a couple of weeks ago when a
pedicab with two passengers without stopping went around stopped traffic at a red light and a tour bus had to lock up it's brakes to avoid hitting the pedicab.

They should be licensed just like any other business that operates in NYC.

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/us/2007/11/04/roth.pedicab.fight.CNN?iref=videosearch

I like the part where the activist says they don't add to the congestion because they can go around traffic. They don't just go around traffic, they just effing ignore it.
I saw a near miss at 49th and 5th a couple of weeks ago when a
pedicab with two passengers without stopping went around stopped traffic at a red light and a tour bus had to lock up it's brakes to avoid hitting the pedicab.

They should be licensed just like any other business that operates in NYC.

I agree, as long as they use some common sense and don't make it too restrictive. FWIW I have seen pedicabs operate in various locales. For the most part they are in resort areas and are an oddity. I like the concept of the ones in Amsterdam, which actually have an electric assist, and in part are paid for by the advertising they carry. Unfortunately the attitudes of motorists in the US are not very conducive to alternate forms of transport...especially those sharing "their" roads.


Aaron:)

Many places, Hilton Head, SC for example, prohibit using free public facilities for profit. Bike paths and lanes usually fit that description. I looked into a pedicab business on HHI, and was given that answer.

The Pedicabs operate in a very small area in New York City. You'll see them by 59th street waiting to pick up passengers for Central Park. They also hang out by Macy's on 34th Street in New York City. I don't see them traveling more than 10 blocks if that. If anyone is getting hurt, it's the carriage riders by Central Park.

In my opinion, they travel only several blocks if that and restrict themselves to the park. Since I work on 42nd street, I rarely see a Pedicab rider and that's only 17 blocks the park.

I was reading about pedicabs here in Dallas a while back (I've never actually seen one), and read about one wreck there- the pedicab was rearended. So yes, it can happen. And one of the issues is making the pedicab operators maintain insurance.

Many places, Hilton Head, SC for example, prohibit using free public facilities for profit. Bike paths and lanes usually fit that description. I looked into a pedicab business on HHI, and was given that answer.

I will reserve my rant on HH, but I wouldn't have expected any different from that place. If that is their stance then any taxi service is operating illegally, by their definition... If I pay taxes to support "free" public facilities I should be able to use them, or are they charging motorists by the mile to use the roads down there now?;)

Aaron:)

We have some here in Cincinnati that operate on the riverfront between the bridges, parking areas and the stadiums during concerts and sporting events. I've used them, they are very convenient. As far as I know they don't go anywhere else in town.

FWIW I have seen pedicabs operate in various locales. For the most part they are in resort areas and are an oddity.
They are quite common in Berlin, presumably patronized by tourists. Pictures were taken in Aug 2001 at the Reichstag, Freidrichstraase Train Station and on Unter den Linden near the Brandenburg Gate. The taxi stand was across the street from the Reichstag.

Neat^^^^^^^ aero-pedicabs, completewith disc wheels.

I will reserve my rant on HH, but I wouldn't have expected any different from that place. If that is their stance then any taxi service is operating illegally, by their definition... If I pay taxes to support "free" public facilities I should be able to use them, or are they charging motorists by the mile to use the roads down there now?;)

Aaron:)

I should have clarified with free, public, recreation facilities.