Utility Cycling - Front Seated Pedicab?

I saw an ad on craigslist for a sort of rickshaw trike. It looks like it would be easily converted to a pedicab, but I don't know about handling. Anyways any suggestions would help. Here is the link: http://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/bik/1252848263.html

Appears to be single speed with coaster brake, which is something to consider.

It's been done.

Husky sells Mercurio trikes like that in the US (they're made in Mexico). They recommend against carrying people in the box part, and in fact, recommend not riding it empty.

They have used these for pedicabs in Mexico. The coaster brake and single speed would be fine for flat places, not good anywhere else.

They use similar ones in Asia. But you'll notice a lot of those Asian models have the operator sitting up higher than on a regular bike so he can see over the top and the Mercurio models don't allow for that. Also, a lot of those Asian models have a big jumbo brake lever for hand or foot to stop the things.

Worksman makes front loading trikes that are similar. They don't currently produce a pedicab, but I have seen used pedicabs that they did, similar to the Asian ones, but with the operator at standard bicycle height as on their tricycles.

There was a US pedicab accident a while back, where apparently, the operator ran a redlight going downhill because he couldn't stop. So that brake business is something to take seriously.

Here are some photos I turned up of the Mexican pedicabs:
http://www.dkimages.com/discover/previews/987/50161522.JPG
http://www.gardeningnude.com/.a/6a00e553fc52ab883401156ee3cd52970c-pi
http://www.designboom.com/history/monobloc/09.jpg
http://web.ecomplanet.com/BUSB9444/ServerContent/MyCustomImages/BUSB9444CustomImage2087304.jpg
http://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/01/28/50/8a/taxi-to-coba-ruins.jpg

You could add drum brake hubs to the fronts. I'd hate to think of having to stop fast with that crazy center-pivot steering. Jackknife City.

I've wondered how front brakes would work on these. You could use rim brakes, for that matter. But unequal braking would be a problem. The Worksman models use a big single axle, not a normal bike hub, so you couldn't conveniently use a hub brake there. On the Mercurio/Husky models, the frame is built to accomodate a normal bicycle front wheel, so it'd work there.

On my Worksman front-loader trike, it's geared 32:22 or so, so 10 mph is about the top speed, and that helps a lot with the braking- it's not like you're going 20 mph and hit the brakes. Even with the coaster brake only, I don't think I've ever skidded the tire on it.

Here's a cool home-made version. I like how they used 2- women's frames to do it:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Schwinn-Rickshaw-3-Wheel-Taxi-Tricycle-Pedal-Cab-Wisc_W0QQitemZ300326335837QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item45ecd8355d&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=65%3A12%7C66%3A2%7C39%3A1%7C72%3A1205%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50