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by Thomas MacMillan | Sep 23, 2009 11:49 am

(17) Comments | Commenting has been closed | E-mail the Author

Posted to: Transportation

With the help of a new city law, “Rick Shaw” may soon be pedaling people around the city on a tricycle built for three.

Fair Haven Alderwoman Erin Sturgis-Pascale has submitted legislation that would legalize the operation of pedicabs — bicycle taxis — in downtown New Haven. Cycling enthusiast Paul Hammer, who hopes to be one of the city’s new bike-taxi drivers, plans to use the nom de guerre of “Rick Shaw,” after the Asian name for the three-wheeled vehicles.

Sturgis-Pascale’s proposed ordinance amendment, which she submitted at the Sept. 8 meeting of the Board of Aldermen, would create a framework for pedicabs to operate on city streets. The legislation would limit the number of cabs to 10, create a licensing and registration process for pedicabs, and ensure that cabbies have a driver’s license and a clean driving record. Drivers would have to have their fingerprints and a home address on file with the city.

The legislation will come before the City Services and Environmental Policy Committee in advance of a full vote by the Board of Aldermen. Click here to read a draft of the bill.

Sturgis-Pascale said that she was motivated to propose the legislation by local pedicab enthusiasts, by the success of pedicab operations in nearby cities, and by the environmental benefits of human-powered transportation.

Pedicabs are in use in West Hartford and in Milford. Sturgis-Pascale envisions that they would be most useful for short trips around downtown, especially from the train station.

Riders would be attracted to pedicabs because of “the novelty of it,” she predicted. “Also the sustainability aspect of it.”

“I see transportation as the next frontier for taking responsibility for your environmental impact,” Sturgis-Pascale said. It may still be “fringy to ride your bike to work,” she said, but pedicabs would help to raise awareness and acceptance of getting around by bike.

The alderwoman said she hopes the board will pass the legislation by December so that holiday shoppers can go from store to store by bike taxi. “That would be really nice,” she said.

Thanks But No Thanks?

Joe Meade, proprietor of Milford Pedicab, said his company has four pedicabs in operation in Milford. His business is run largely off of revenue from advertisements on the sides of the pedicabs. There are no set fares; customers pay whatever they wish. “It’s really more of an entertainment than it is a livery service,” he said.

Meade said that he has an eye on expanding into New Haven. But he expressed some skepticism about a new pedicab ordinance.

“For us, regulation is just an obstacle,” he said. He expressed concern that an ordinance might mean more bureaucracy for pedicab operators. “In Milford all they want to know is if you have insurance.”

Meade said that he plans to wait and see what happens with the New Haven ordinance before rolling his pedicabs into the city. “We want to see how that unfolds,” he said.

Along with Yale medical student John Binford, Paul Hammer hopes to open a pedicab operation called Cabike. Hammer said that although he could legally begin his company without an ordinance in place, he hopes that legislation will ensure “cordial relations with taxis” and divert other possible controversies before they start.

Hammer, who occasionally drives for Milford Pedicab, said that a taxi driver at the Milford train station had confronted him angrily. “One cabbie said, ‘You’re stealing our business!’ My response was, ‘Hey why don’t you come drive a pedicab?’”

Hammer said that he anticipates cordial relations between pedicabs and regular taxis in New Haven. “None of use want to take anyone’s livelihood away … I think we’ll get along.”

Hammer said that he envisions a pedicab stand at the train station alongside the stand for car cabs. He said that the Devil’s Gear Bike Shop has offered to maintain and store the pedicabs.

“I think New Haven could ultimately support maybe two dozen pedicabs,” Hammer said.

Comments

posted by: Walt on September 23, 2009 12:08pm

When I was hauled around Shanghai many years ago a rickshaw was a two-wheeled vehicle powered by two feet, not mine, belonging to young Chinese who must have been in great condition as they never seemed to tire,

Saying the local bike- guy-powered vehicle or its power source is a rickshaw may not be kosher, but who cares?

posted by: 2333994411222 on September 23, 2009 12:10pm

I know the Toad’s smoking deck was rejected in part because of concerns about increased traffic. I hope this pedicab business is rejected for the same reason. We don’t need more commercial vehicles clogging up the roads.

posted by: Bill on September 23, 2009 1:33pm

The previous poster brings up another benefit of the pedicab, the riders could light up their favorite smoke.

posted by: JackJack on September 23, 2009 2:16pm

Will they obey the traffic laws, and carry insurance?

posted by: Edward_H on September 23, 2009 2:39pm

This will be great until some fool runs a red light and smashes into one of these things.

posted by: anon on September 23, 2009 2:44pm

A lot of the cab trips from the train station to downtown areas could be replaced by pedicabs. They are much more efficient, less noisy and less polluting, and therefore collectively better for all parties involved. I have taken them in a number of major cities around the world.

Because of the obvious benefits, a surcharge should be levied on cab fares in order to help promote and subsidize this type of service.

posted by: robn on September 23, 2009 5:20pm

Since its just about impossible for a pedi-cab to roar down my street at 1 in the morning at 50 mph, I’m all for them and don’t care if they take business from motor-taxis.

posted by: pc on September 23, 2009 5:36pm

For a town that claims to be bike friendly, New Haven sure seems to be doing a lot to discourage bicyclists. I could understand if there were pedi-cabs on the road right now, and they were causing issues that needed to be dealt with, but why put in ordinances before-hand? why limit the number to ten?

posted by: William Kurtz on September 23, 2009 7:28pm

It would be nice to see this take off as a viable business; there was an attempt a few years ago that never really made it but I think momentum is gathering to see pedicabs in operation in cities and New Haven is just the right size for it to be a utilitarian service, and not simply a tourism novelty. Good luck “Rick Shaw.”

posted by: 1999456731 on September 23, 2009 11:25pm

I am never sure if New Haven is a city or an exaggerated town [maybe a Yale (sub)urbanist can clarify?] but I am open to allowing free-market fascism to decide whether this is a good idea. Without spirit, I hope the proposal by the woman whose hyphenated name I cannot pronounce passes. Her name reminds me of an annual South Dakota Harley Davidson rally and mathematics—two things that appeal to my parent’s but not to me. NH Antifa!

posted by: Mark Kaminski on September 24, 2009 6:45am

Before any legislation is passed or even discussed by the city of New Haven, I would suggest they have meetings with existing pedicab companies, such as ours, to discuss how the business operates and what, if any, issues may arise.

Our company has been successful in Milford and we are now being approached by some surrounding cities (large cities similar to New Haven) about how we can support their city. These cities are doing their homework before creating any obstacles to start a business.

New Haven is known as a biker friendly city and I would hate to see the city create legislation around a business that is 100% biker related and even more importantly 100% GREEN!

The point I am trying to make is instead of blindly creating more “government” why hasn’t New Haven had a conversation with a business that is operating 10 minutes South of their city lines?

With these economic times wouldn’t it make more sense to help small businesses instead of having the city politians create hurdle after hurdle without knowing exactly how a business operates.

Milford Pedicab is currently working with other cities around the state and would love the opportunity to have a discussion with New Haven. There are pros and cons to most businesses but the value that we bring to any city is priceless and we have a long list of City officials (from Storrs all the way down to Greenwich) that would be happy to share their positive experiences with pedicabs and in particular Milford Pedicab (http://www.MilfordPedicab.com)!

Thanks for your time,

Mark Kaminski
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
http://www.MilfordPedicab.com

posted by: newhavenlove on September 24, 2009 9:09am

In NYC, part of the appeal of the pedicabs is the fact that the drivers are young and hot. what about that aspect? ... bring on the rickshaws!

posted by: Joe on September 24, 2009 2:42pm

Pedicabs might now be a welcomed at places like Yale which is going through the painstaking process of providing safe and swift transport for their students, particularly after this recent sad event on their campus. Perhaps a pick up/drop off service after hours is something for the university to invest in for students and faculty. It’s a quiet and safe way to make short trips w/o polluting the air and crowding the streets.

posted by: Brian Tang on September 24, 2009 3:04pm

Presumably thereís some logic behind the 10-pedicab cap. Iím disappointed that the article didnít offer any explanation. It made it sound kind of arbitrary.

Öor maybe it is arbitrary.

posted by: William Kurtz on September 26, 2009 3:16pm

Dear Editors: Perhaps I’m missing something, but I’m having a difficult time believing that “Jules Andy’s” reprehensible “joke” falls inside your community guidelines for the comments forum.

posted by: Greg on September 28, 2009 2:55pm

Pedicabs sound like a great idea to me. Hell, I’d be interested in driving one as a part-time job to supplement my income.

The limit of 10 is really odd, no doubt about it.

posted by: robn on September 28, 2009 11:03pm

NEWHAVENLOVE,

The idea that RICKSHAW ain’t sexy enough to be driving a pedicab is just crunkin-crazy. Its a gun show my friend…and everyone in New Haven is invited!

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