Is a Single Vendor the Solution?

Good idea? Bad idea? What do you think? And why? Click on "Comments" at the bottom and give us your thoughts.

Miami Beach Says No to Pedicabs

Wednesday was an ominous day for three-wheeled taxis. As New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg hesitated over signing a bill which would regulate the Big Apple’s three- to four-hundred strong pedicab industry, the Miami Beach City Commission discussed a possible ordinance which would have established a single-vendor bike taxi business, operating along the oceanfront. No action was taken, but the commission noted a general consensus that such an ordinance had no support.

The idea to use bicycles to ferry around South Beach’s tourists, drunks, and revelers is the longtime dream of beach resident Felipe Sáes Azenha, who has pursued his ambition doggedly for some five years now. “It’s the prefect form of transportation for a city which is so densely populated,” insists Azenhas. “Miami Beach has the second highest population density in the country, after NYC. . . an automobile isn’t necessarily the most efficient mode.”

Azhenhas was crushed by the commission’s cold feet on Wednesday. “I mean, this has gone on for half a decade, no joke. I’ve met with each one of the commissioners, personally, several times. I’ve been warmly received, too — most of them have seemed to have liked the idea . . . I was expecting the ordinance [to] pass.”

Azenha had lobbied hard for the commission to license a single vendor, reasoning that much of the squeamishness around pedicabs in other cities – they’re unsafe, they’re chaotic, they don’t follow traffic rules – is the result of over-saturation from rinky-dink, unregulated gypsy companies. As Azenha envisioned things, the license would be put up for bidding; he, of course, had hoped to win the bid.

“From my point of view, I was taking a risk here,” he says. “My company wouldn’t necessarily have won the contract . . . but I believe that’s the best thing for the city.”

The Commission, apparently, disagrees. “I think it’s an issue of safety,” says commissioner Jerry Libbin, who did not favor the ordinance. “There were a number of concerns that I have with the area where people could safely board or get off the vehicles. . . plus, the way the ordinance was drafted, the pedicab was going to be allowed to park when not in use, in legal parking spaces.”

Ah, parking: the force before which miles of bike lanes, entire Master Plans, even, will crumble like sandcastles in the tide.

For his part, Azhena is so bitter about the meeting that he’s considering more drastic measures – “I’m frustrated, and I’m not sure where to go from here,” he vents. “There’s a loophole, where I could start operating for tips alone, but then I risk being arrested. . . civil disobedience is an option, but I don’t necessarily want to take that option.”

Comments after the Not-Signing Ceremony

Comments from Streetsblog:

After hearing a number of pedicab owners and operators speak at the Manhattan PlaNYC Town Hall meeting, I, for one, am again firmly against Int 331-A.

On my ride home from work yesterday, I bumped into a pedicab driver with banners hanging from his ride (and with passengers), so I figured he'd know--I asked him if Bloomberg had signed the bill. That's when and where I heard the happiest surprise I've ever heard about Bloomberg--he decided to take more time before signing it.

I suggest all Streetsblog readers send Bloomberg a message THANKING him for NOT signing the bill right away, and reminding him that such a stifling of the nascent pedicab industry, which competes with the filthy, choking, car transport industry, would fly in the face of his own administration's stated mission: "Sustainability." You might also suggest that he send the bill back to City Council and ask them to remove or improve (if that's how NYC government does it) some or all of the unnecessarily punitive and restrictive measures fo the bill. Also, tell your friends to do the same!

From the New York Magazine NoHo Corral:

And, here's one more demographic the mayor just won over: pedicab drivers. Bloomberg granted the slightly wacky industry a last-minute reprieve from the proposed tough regulations after talking to a group of drivers. Aww.

From onNYTurf:

What a crazy, crazy twist of events. That is the strangest news of the day. The bill before the mayor came out of city council and the cap was put in by Speaker Christine Quinn. But she got the idea from Bloomberg! Well, it's good news for now, now you just have to hope that the sanity sticks.

Bloomberg Backs Off Bad Bill

It's true! At the last minute, during the actual signing ceremony, sitting at his desk, pen poised for signatures on 5 bills, Mayor Michael Bloomberg changed his mind. Apparently persuaded by the eco-friendly arguement, the NYC Mayor asked for more time to consider the ramifications of the anti-pedicab bill before him. Yes, he could ultimately decide to move forward with the bill, but for the time being, SCORE ONE FOR THE PEDICABS!!!

MIKE COMES TO SCREECHING HALT ON PEDICAB LAW

March 15, 2007 -- For the first time during his administration, Mayor Bloomberg put the brakes on a proposed law yesterday - one that would place tough restrictions on pedicabs - just moments before he was about to sign it into law.

At a bill-signing ceremony at City Hall yesterday, Bloomberg listened intently as angry pedicab drivers pleaded with him to change his mind.

One after one, they told the mayor they thought the bill went against Bloomberg's plan to make New York more environmentally friendly because they don't pollute.

"It's hypocrisy," said George Bliss, president of the city's Pedicab Owners Association.

Another pedicab operator told the mayor that signing this bill would "ruin your legacy."

As the bill sat on a table with several official City of New York pens laying next to them waiting to be signed, Bloomberg then stepped to the podium and said he would hold off signing the bill.

"I want to think about it," he declared.

"We were screaming at the mayor and he actually listened," said pedicab driver Melissa von Ludwig.

Bloomberg has until March 30 to act on the bill, which would limit pedicabs in the five boroughs to 325 - eliminating at least 175. It would also ban electric assist, a small motor that makes it easier to pedal.

But despite the reprieve, the pedicab advocates said they weren't going to celebrate just yet.

"The City Council can overrule him," Bliss said.

Council Speaker Christine Quinn sponsored the bill and it passed overwhelmingly in the council.

"I guess we should be hopeful," Bliss said. "This law was intended to disrupt, to hurt our industry and make pedicab business people unsuccessful."

Bliss said if the mayor doesn't veto the bill, he would consider taking the matter to court.

Scramble after mayor's pedicab U-Turn

Supporters of the City Council's pedicab regulation bill were scrambling Thursday to regroup and plan their next move after Mayor Michael Bloomberg surprised everyone Wednesday by declining to sign the legislation.

"When we get to that room with the pen, we assume it's a done deal," said Rance Huff, a spokesman for Councilman Leroy Comrie (D-Queens). "There wasn't anything raised yesterday that wasn't discussed all along. Why wait until the bill signing to change your mind?"

As chairman of the Consumer Affairs Committee, Comrie took the lead in crafting the regulations that would have limited the number of pedicabs and restricted their access to certain parts of the city. An impassioned plea from pedicab drivers at the bill signing led Bloomberg to put the bill aside and say he would "think about it."

Huff said Comrie would be contacting the mayor personally in the coming days to discuss the bill.

"Personally speaking, I would never let my kids get into a pedicab in midtown Manhattan," said David Pollack, executive director of the Committee for Taxi Safety, an industry group representing about 5,000 yellow cab drivers.

"Some say the pedicabs add a lovely flavor to the city. But that flavor is going to taste pretty bad if there is an incident and someone gets hurt."

Unlike Comrie, Pollack won't be reaching out to the mayor's office for an explanation. He said he's going to wait and see what the mayor's next move is going to be. The mayor has until March 30 to sign or veto the bill. If he does nothing, it becomes law automatically.

Councilman Allan Gerson (D-Manhattan) said he was ecstatic about the mayor's 11th hour reprieve of what pedicab drivers called "an industry death sentence."

Gerson had been one of the bill's initial sponsors, but he removed his name from the bill when it was expanded to ban electric assist motors and other limitations.

"This bill really went beyond the purview of safety and preventing congestion," Gerson said. "Good for the mayor for not signing it. Hopefully he'll go back to our original, [less restrictive] version."

Pedicabs expanding into NJ?

Will pedicabs get green light in Hoboken?
March 14, 2007

The City Council's transportation committee will hold a hearing next week to determine whether pedicab operators need anything more than a business license to operate, according to Councilwoman Terry LaBruno.

A couple of entrepreneurs approached LaBruno, chairwoman of the Parking and Transportation Committee - and asked if they could operate pedicabs in the city.

Pedicabs don't seem to be covered by existing taxi regulations, city officials say, and therefore operators would not have to purchase a taxi medallion - which can sell for as much as $250,000.

Some Hoboken residents interviewed recently said they approve of pedicabs as a green alternative to conventional taxis.

"I think it's cool," said Jerry Coggins, 42, who lives on Washington Street. "It's good for the environment."

Others said that they might congest the city streets.

"It would be quaint to have those things pedaling around Hoboken," said Ray Abbiatici, a commuter who was picking up his car near the PATH station to drive home to Basking Ridge. "But then again I see congestion problems. It could be total chaos."

Cabbies waiting in the line to pick up commuters at Hudson Place said they would not welcome more competition in an already crowded field.

"We've already got a lot of competition," said Anton Makar, a yellow cab taxi driver who has worked in Hoboken for two weeks after five years as a cabbie in Jersey City.

There are 53 licenses for cabs in Hoboken, 25 livery licenses, and a unlimited licenses for limousines, a city official said.

In addition, another five cab licenses may be auctioned this year.

LaBruno said she doesn't believe pedicabs would be in direct competition with taxis. She envisions them being used only in nice weather and mainly for tourists and as novelty rides.

In New York, the growing popularity of pedicabs has caused conflict with drivers on the city's crowded streets and Mayor Michael Bloomberg wants to strictly regulate them.

LaBruno said that Hoboken might have to consider similar regulations if pedicabs catch on.

Pedicab Picket Line

This great photo was posted at New York Daily Photo blog on March 14.

Legislation was recently passed regulating the pedicab industry. And of course it is fraught with problems - disagreements, protests (even free rides are being offered) and threat of a lawsuit. The key elements of the new bill are requirement of liability insurance, limitation on total number which can operate in the city (325), ban on electric motors, ban on operation in Midtown from Nov. 12 through Jan. 7 and ability for police to restrict them in situations where there is heavy traffic, parades etc. Essentially, pedicabs are being brought to a level of regulation similar to the taxicab industry - the primary opposition. Taxi drivers allege they cause congestion, are dangerous and should be limited and regulated; pedicab drivers feel they are eco-friendly and the legislation is anti-environment and anti-small business. There is a novelty element riding in a pedicab, somewhat like a horse and carriage, but they can be pricey. I recently was returning home with a large number of packages. I thought I might take a ride and support the team - I was quoted $15 for 10 blocks (about $5 in a taxi). I decided to walk ...

Electric cabs: New competition for pedicabs in Orlando?

March 15, 2007

Corey Lamb has always been the guy in the room with the big idea -- so many, in fact, that his mother grew weary of hearing them all.

"My mother said, 'I'm tired of hearing about all these great ideas and you not putting them to use,' " he said. "I've had tons of ideas, but I've never taken that leap of faith."

Two months ago today, Lamb took that leap. People have been pointing and staring at him ever since.

In January, Lamb started O-Cartz, a small but growing fleet of electric cabs that prowl the streets of downtown Orlando. Technically, they are NEVs, or Neighborhood Electric Vehicles. Picture a "stretch" golf cart.

Downtown workers and nightclubbers are accustomed to seeing taxis and no longer look twice at the muscle-powered pedicabs that started a few years back. But a silent golf-cart-like vehicle with chrome hubcaps and three rows of bucket seats -- well, that's different.

"It's like I'm a ghost or an alien," Lamb said. "People point or stare."

For $3 a pop ($5 roundtrip), Lamb will pick you up and take you where you want to go, as long as it is downtown.

The 29-year-old entrepreneur, who holds a master's degree in communications and information systems, was walking downtown with a cousin a few months ago when the idea came to him. His cousin noticed all the pedicabs -- bicycles pulling passenger trailers -- competing for foot-weary customers.

"He said, 'If I had a golf cart, I could run those things over,' " Lamb said.

If he were in a comic strip, a light bulb would have appeared over Lamb's head.

After a bit of research, Lamb bought two NEVs from Global Electric Motorcars, a company owned by DaimlerChrysler AG. He has two more on order.

Powered by six 12-volt batteries, the vehicles have a top speed of 25 mph and go 30 miles before needing a charge from a standard electrical outlet. But the carts can legally operate only on streets with a speed limit of 35 mph or less, so O-Cartz's territory is restricted to downtown.

The city regulates taxis and is in the middle of enacting regulations for pedicabs. When Lamb rolled onto the scene, city officials were just as puzzled as downtown residents.

"When they first contacted us, we weren't sure what the heck they were. We had to do a little research," said police legal adviser Natasha Permaul. The city eventually determined the carts -- which have equipment not found on most golf carts, such as headlights, taillights, seat belts and windshield wipers -- qualify to share the road.

The business operates at midday during the work week, hauling downtown workers back and forth to lunch. Wednesday through Saturday, O-Cartz caters to the nighttime crowd, carrying people to dinner, Magic basketball games and nightclubs as late as 3 a.m.

Things are toughest for any business in its first months, but Lamb said he is attracting repeat customers and gets referrals from concierges at downtown hotels.

Most people who climb in his cart want to go someplace that is too far to walk but not far enough to justify calling a traditional taxi, Lamb said. Plus, there is the mystique. As much mystique as you can get at 25 mph, anyway.

"It has a small sense of adventure," Lamb said. "It's fun."

Watch the video.

Man with gun attempts to rob pedicab driver

March 9, 2007
A man wielding a gun this morning attempted to rob a pedicab driver in Orlando.

Orlando police said two suspects in a black Nissan Maxima approached a pedi cab driver at 12:30 a.m. on Jefferson Street and Magnolia Avenue. The driver of the vehicle then pointed a gun at the pedicab driver and demanded money.

"The pedicab driver jumped off his vehicle and took running without being robbed. The driver of the Nissan and his passenger then drove into the pedicab and took off," said Orlando police Lt. Shirley Coleman. The pedicab driver is unharmed.

Police are searching for the armed robbers.

It's been a tough week for pedicab drivers in Orlando. Last week, armed men in ski masks robbed a pedicab driver in downtown Orlando. Those suspects were arrested.

Orlando Pedicab Hit By Car While Working Downtown

March 1, 2007
ORLANDO, Fla. -- Two women had to go to the hospital after a collision between a pedicab and a car and the driver of the pedicab said it has become more dangerous to maneuver the streets of downtown Orlando. Two women were taken to the hospital when the pedicab they were in collided with a vehicle in downtown Orlando overnight.

Read the article and/or watch the video clip.

My thoughts: Notice that this pedicab was a trailer bike, not a trishaw pedicab like a Main Street or Maximus. The trailer bikes are known to have trouble stopping suddenly in a controlled manner. Would that have made a difference in this incident? Maybe, maybe not. However, when it comes to regulations, safety, and insurance, front and rear brakes should be required. Not all pedicabs are created equal.

Bad Blogger!

I've been neglecting my duties as a blogger the last couple weeks. I've been so busy with other projects that I just haven't had time to keep up on everything. So I've instructed my dogs to keep and eye on me until I get caught up. If I stop typing, they're to growl and snarl at me, and if I get up for more than 5 minutes at a time, they're to bite my leg and drag me back to my computer.

Good dogs. Bad blogger.

Update from Alaska

Got this update from one of our Pedicab Operators Intensive graduates...

Hi Teri and Greg!

I Just wanted you to know that my new Mainstreet Broadway Pedicab arrived last Friday. I wrestled it out of its crate on Sunday night, and today I drove it around my neigborhood-with a lot less trouble than I had in Denver during our weekend intensive in August!

:) I will send you pictures when the snow melts and I am up and running with Minnie Moose Pedicab! It has been cold cold cold here for about 6 weeks and we are wondering if spring is ever going to come- now I am really antsy for it to arrive! Hope the April training goes well!

Lyn Gilbert-Gard in Fairbanks, AK

We wish Lyn all the best and will post updates as we get them. If you're ever in Fairbanks -- in the summer anyway -- take a pedicab ride with Minnie Moose!

Thrill seeker or fear avoider?

When I read this post by Seth Godin, I immediately thought of the pedicab industry.

I now firmly believe that there are two polar opposites at work:
Thrill seekers and
Fear avoiders

Notice that I don't use the word 'risk' to describe either category. More on that soon.

How do we explain the fact that Forbes finds more than 700 billionaires and virtually none are both young and retired? Why keep working?

How do explain why so many organizations get big and then just stop? Stop innovating, stop pushing, stop inventing...

Why are seminars sometimes exciting, bubbling pots of innovation and energy while others are just sort of dronefests?

I think people come to work with one of two attitudes (though there are plenty of people with a blend that's somewhere in between):

Thrill seekers love growth. They most enjoy a day where they try something that was difficult, or--even better--said to be impossible, and then pull it off. Thrill seekers are great salespeople because they view every encounter as a chance to break some sort of record or have an interaction that is memorable.

Fear avoiders hate change. They want the world to stay just the way it is. They're happy being mediocre, because being mediocre means less threat/fear/change. They resent being pushed into the unknown, because the unknown is a scary place.

An interesting side discussion: one of the biggest factors in the success of the US isn't our natural resources or location. It's that so many people in this country came here seeking a thrill.

So why not call them risk seekers and risk avoiders? Well, it used to be true. Seeking thrills was risky. But no longer. Now, of course, safe is risky. The horrible irony is that the fear avoiders are setting themselves up for big changes because they're confused. The safest thing they can do now, it turns out, is become a thrill seeker.

Who do you work with?

What drives someone to ride or not ride in a pedicab the first time? Who is attracted to the personal and physical challenges of pedicabbing? What type of person decides to start a new business in a fringe industry?

I'd say that both thrill seekers and fear avoiders come to this industry, but which type is more successful in the long run?

New pedicab company in MA

We consulted with this new pedicab company for a couple of hours by phone, then emailed sample documents they could use in their business plan and take to their attorney.

"Things are going great so far, we've got in contact with three potential sponsors who have all expressed interest in advertising on the cabs during the whole summer. Just last week, we were in the local newspaper! We met with our attorney regarding all of the wonderful documents you sent us, and she's in the process of reviewing and making changes to them."

Pedicabs coming to Port

By Stephen Tait, Staff Writer

Published: March 19, 2007

NEWBURYPORT — Kevin Murphy and Blake Harris want to offer you a ride around town — on the back of a bike, no less.

Though not your typical business partners — Murphy, 39, of Newburyport, is the executive vice president of UC Advantage and Harris, 17, of Amesbury, is a junior at St. Johns Preparatory School — the two have high hopes for their new business, Newburyport Pedicab.

The company, which will open in May, will use bicycle rickshaws — a bicycle that has a sitting area extending behind it — to transport people throughout the city and as far as the commuter train station and Plum Island.

“It’s starting in all the big cities,” Harris said. “I think Newburyport is a great city for it.”

Though Harris is just a teenager, the seeds of this business partnership started more than a decade ago when the two met in 1995 as part of the Big Brothers/Big Sisters program.

“We’ve been seeing each other at least once a week for 10 years,” Harris said.

Now, as a way to stay connected the two are launching their new company. But unlike many business ventures, Murphy and Harris don’t want to make great sums of money — at least not for themselves.

They say their goal is to provide Harris with the experience of running a business, provide fun alternative summer jobs for Newburyporters and to raise money for the Pan-Massachusetts Challenge, which benefits the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

For that reason, Newburyport Pedicab is being set up as a nonprofit business.

The drivers will work for tips, or “pay as you please,” as Harris describes it: if a person is happy with the service, they pay accordingly. Drivers will be paid and the rest goes to Pan-Mass.

Murphy, who has been riding in the Pan-Mass Challenge for years, got the idea from riding in the race on a tandem bike with his sister. He joked that he should just participate with a rickshaw and carry his sister for the 400 miles since she didn’t do much work on the tandem bike anyway.

Though they never did compete that way, Murphy said the idea to bring such a business to Newburyport seemed to fit perfectly. And even though riding in the Pan-Mass requires a rider raise at least $3,600, Murphy and Harris say this venture will raise even more.

“I’m pretty sure we can at least triple that with our bikes this summer,” Harris said.

City Councilor James Shanley, who along with the other councilors approved the business last week, said he’s raised a modest $6,000 or $7,000 for Pan-Mass. That’s why he’s so supportive of Harris and Murphy’s business plan.

“It’s a great thing,” he said. “I think it will be a lot of fun and I think it is something people will enjoy using.”

Particulars about the business are still to be worked out. For instance, the business partners say it will start in May and be available seven days a week, but they are still unsure about particular hours of operation. On weekdays the service may be available from 3 to 11 p.m. with extended hours on the weekends.

“We’ll work as much as the community will support,” Murphy said.

The two have already earned the support of the City Council and the Greater Newburyport Chamber of Commerce, and are now looking for local businesses to put advertising on the sides or back of the pedicabs — money which also will go to the cancer foundation.

Beyond another mode of transportation, Harris and Murphy says it will help alleviate parking problems in the city, will be great for elderly people who want to go on the numerous tours in the city but can’t walk them and lends well to the environmentally-conscience attitude of many Newburyporters.

Plus, they say it can be a form of entertainment.

“Not only is it a cab, it is entertainment,” Harris said. “We’re looking for drivers who can be enthusiastic and excited about Newburyport.”

“I think it’ll work,” Murphy added.

Why Pedicabs?

Improve visibility for outlying businesses. Pedicabs will travel to restaurants, galleries and other business outside of the downtown corridor.

Help to reduce parking burden. Pedicab will help carry people around city, freeing up more parking spots downtown.

Facility participation in events. It can be used for the garden and chocolate tours and for many other events.

Added jobs. Pedicab will hire local drivers.

Environmentally friendly. Bikes contribute no negative impact on the environment.

Source: Newburyport Pedicab business plan presented to the City Council

So, you think you can do it better?

Hello All!

It is daylight savings time, now. Thanks to the US Congress. Hey! We have the power to change time!!! Anyway, in a recent trip abroad, I saw some potential bike truck and bike taxi companies.

In thinking about expanding the vision of the pedicab world, there area variety of responsible things one must do.

In recent months, far too many people seem to think that they could have created their own profitable, well run, cash-cow pedicab business, just by being Green-forward-progressive thinking transporters of party-goers, ready for a good time.

I am here to tell you that running an operation correctly, regardless of what type of business is work. It will always be work, it will always be difficult to manage people.

That being said, my beef with you people who seem to think you can do it better: either shit or get off the pot. Unless you have a unique product, service, or management attitude that actually works, forget about wasting time and money of your potential drivers. I have to say that I have seen people impress upon other slow, spotless minds, a vision of promise and charm, and hope, being liberated from the "system." That being said, I have to say that talk of revolution, karma, and a changing of the guard makes me pretty much vomit in my mouth. It is bitter and worthless: my point: Unless you can run a business well, with progress, don't do it.

That being said, part II, is a thought on opening up the world to pedicabs. The vision of the pedicab is perfect around the world. They have them in China, South Africa, and the Caribbean, not to mention all over the US and Europe. In my travels to a country south of our borders, I saw push bikes all over the place, but no pedicabs. Travesty! They were single speeds, similar to ice cream carts we see in our locations. But, I saw them weave in and out of non-regulated traffice, with ease. Whomever these drivers are, are good. Very good.

So, I looked for opportunity for pedicabs. Everywhere needs at least one. I can see Dr. Seuss labeling this thing as the best way of transport. God Bless you, Cat in the Hat! But, we think about location, price, cost, transport, potential for money, people per capita in a small city, average weight, average number of rides. The list goes on and on. I hoped to take one. Another newsflash: The rest of the world sees necessity, not luxury. In order to gain and understanding of expansion of pedicabs into further domestic and further into international markets, it is necessary to understand the freedom, leisure, and pleasure that Americans enjoy. In other countries, they ride a pedicab because it pays more than their Attorney salary. Keep this in mind. Expansion is imaginative and beautiful. Expansion is for the dreaming only. It is the progressive entrepreneur. But, that being said, one must think about adaptability and success, rather than large dollar signs. This is a money making business. But there is more than that to this. I look at my forays into entrepreneurship, I can only say that statistics will bail you out of jail, but they won't prove your point.

So, before you start a pedicab company in a location that you are certain that has potential to make full time money, think about it...You may be able to do it better, faster, and stronger. But ultimately, statistics and a proof of your process will save you. I submit that being in business is to make money, not just satisfy a student-global warming initiative. While the latter is noble, the former is the American Dream. Enterprise as you must.

That also being said, if you have a market that will complete your vision, this is what you do: write the plan and follow it. Otherwise, you will be yet another 90% of small business that close in the US each year, due to stupid decisions. Make the industry better. Make it a source of entertainment, or talking to people. But if you are going to do it, do it right.

Pedicabs: Nuisance or Transportation?

Pedicabs: Nuisance or Transportation?
by Richard Hake

Download the MP3.

NEW YORK, NY February 28, 2007 —Back in 1995, human powered taxis debuted near Broadway. Soon after, the hotel, theater and taxi industries complained. They called the unregulated pedicabs unsafe and a nuisance. Later today, the City Council is expected to vote on changing the rules for pedicab owners and drivers and how they operate on city streets.

We sent WNYC’s Richard Hake on a rickshaw ride from Greenwich Village to Times Square, where he found that drivers welcome some regulation, but want to remain a legitimate mode of getting around.

7 Steps to a Bicycle-Friendly Workplace

Since so many pedicab drivers are bicycle enthusiasts, I thought I'd pass along this article from Bicycle Colorado.

With close to 1.5 million bicyclists in Colorado, chances are that bicycling is important to many of your organization’s co-workers and customers. That means making your business more bicycle-friendly may help increase customer loyalty and employee satisfaction. Here are some easy ways to do so:

1. Encourage your co-workers to bicycle to work as a way to promote health, decrease turnover, and relieve crowded parking lots
   
2. Post a bike map with local bicycling routes in office break areas or near the main entrance to highlight good routes near your office
   
3. Add one or two bicycle racks in highly visible areas just outside the main entrance, ideally in a covered area
   
4. Add a sign near the front door saying “We’re a bicycle-friendly business. We encourage our customers and employees to bicycle here.”
   
5. Boost visibility for your business by sponsoring a local bicycling event, club, or team
   
6. Choose at least one bicycling event each year to encourage customers, co-workers, vendors, and neighbors to participate as a fun way to strengthen customer loyalty and build goodwill
   
7. Encourage your employer and co-workers to join Bicycle Colorado and your local bicycling advocacy group to help build a more bicycle-friendly Colorado

Without Tami, it's the same old thing on American Idol

Tami Gosnell may not have made the finals on American Idol, but she's still rockin' and rollin' (see performance dates below).

We lost interest in this season's AI after Tami got cut. It was hard to differentiate between most of the remaining contestants; each seemed pretty much like the others. No one really captured my attention, so I deleted my season pass on Tivo. I'll catch the show once in awhile throughout the season, which will be enough to keep up. This season's theme seems to be, "I want to be different, just like everyone else."

Thanks to a tip from one of our readers, I was directed to this article on CNN.com which echoes my feelings about the show.

What's missing on this "Idol," Slezak said, is "a real mix of different types."

"A lot of the guys are working a sort of Justin Timberlake-y, Usher-y vibe, and a lot of the women are sort of working an old-school Gladys Knight, Aretha kind of vibe," he said. "I was surprised by the fact that there aren't really any legitimate rock singers, that there doesn't seem to be anyone who's a country singer."

Remember Tami Gosnell, the pedicab driver from Colorado? Now there was a star. When she sang "Whipping Post" during her audition, it was like that scene in "The Queen" when Helen Mirren's Queen Elizabeth is nearly rendered speechless by the sight of a magnificent, elusive stag. Such moments happen rarely, when we least expect them.

So invigorating was Gosnell's bluesy, natural performance that it required another viewing, courtesy of DVR. She had a certain something -- a quality that can vaguely be described as "IT."

She was also inexplicably cut after this year's Hollywood rounds. In a sea of "blah," Gosnell certainly stood out.

Isn't that worth voting for?

Don't get me wrong. There are some good singers this season, but they all sound like someone else; nothing really unique. Since we, the viewers, were never told why Tami got cut, I can only assume that it's because she didn't fit, not because she wasn't good enough. If that's the case, Tami's better off. Fitting in this season seems to mean homogenous and boring. We can only hope for some big improvements during the season.

A recent email I received from Tami has the following upcoming shows on her calendar:
Saturday, March 10th, 2007
Trilogy Wine Bar, Boulder CO
BreastFest 2007! - 9 pm
Price: Sliding Scale Donations $5-$20

Friday, March 16th, 2007
Delaney's and The Celtic Tavern, Denver CO
Baked St. Patties Celebration! - 4 pm

Saturday, March 17th, 2007
Delaney's and The Celtic Tavern, Denver CO
Baked St. Patties Celebration! - 12 pm

Friday, March 23rd, 2007
The Pioneer Inn, Nederland CO
10 pm

Friday, April 13th, 2007
Dillingers, Lafayette CO
9 pm

Friday, April 27th, 2007
1st Street Pub & Grill, Nederland CO
Mountain Jammin! - 10 pm

The Rumor Mill: #6 Kiss my a**

Rumor #6: All our drivers have to kiss our butts to keep us happy.

I'm sure that if you asked our drivers, they'd be pretty unhappy about the idea that they're a bunch of brown-nosers, but this is what we were told a couple weeks ago.

Sure there are some drivers we're more friendly with than others, but we don't expect any of them to kiss up (although I do enjoy a nice soft pair of lips on my cheek once in awhile). All we really ask for is some respect, loyalty, communication and cooperation; the basis of any good relationship.

Respect:
We expect our drivers to treat us, our property, tools and equipment, and the other drivers with respect. We also expect that passengers, pedestrians, police and other members of the downtown community will be treated with respect. Lying, cheating and stealing isn't tolerated; they show a lack of respect for self and others.

Loyalty:
Don't spread gossip and lies. Don't talk shit about us. Don't come to our parties, drink our beer and eat our food, then tell everyone how awful and unfair we are. If you have a problem with our policies, talk to us about it directly. Don't waste time getting everyone else's opinion first. That's how rumors and gossip get started.

Communication:
If you have an issue with some decision we've made, discuss it with us. If there's a reason why rent will be late, talk to us about it. If there's a problem with the cab you rode last night, write it on the board. If there was an incident with a passenger or police, let us know about it now; don't just wait to see if someone complains. Honest and straight-forward communication is key.

Cooperation:
Cooperation with us and with other drivers goes hand-in-hand with respect. If you elect to participate in a special event -- wedding, art walk, grand opening, fundraiser, etc. -- we expect you to cooperate with us, the coordinator, and the other drivers to make the event a great experience. We also get calls for rides requiring single cabs and groups. We expect our drivers to cooperate with us and with each other in those special rides. That doesn't mean they can't say no; it means that if they say yes, they can't bitch about it later if there are problems. We all do the best we can to anticipate issues, but some problems (like weather) are simply unpredictable.

I don't have a problem with people who have a different opinion than mine. I don't expect everyone to like or agree with everything we say or do. And I'm sure we'll make mistakes from time to time, no matter how good our intentions may be. We're always looking for ways to improve, so we appreciate ideas for how to do things better. But how will we know if no one takes the time to talk with us?

However, and this is a big HOWEVER, don't just whine about how bad you've got it, how you never get a break, or how things never work out for you. We've all gone through rough times and whining doesn't make it any better; it just makes everyone around you miserable. If you want me to do something about a problem, offer me an idea for a solution. Don't just tell me that something's broken; tell me what you would do to fix it.

I do have a problem with people who won't talk about issues with me directly, but prefer to leave snippy text messages or cryptic voicemails on my cell phone, make snide comments as they ride by, or smile to my face then tell lies behind my back. I thought I left all that behind in high school.

Maybe those people are just plain yeller - too sceered to face their problems head on. With a favorite past-time of stirring up trouble, they have a limited repertoire of problem-solving tactics: name-calling, gossiping, and acting out. I'd tell them to grow up and move out of their parents' basement, but I already know their response: "F U!"

Inclusively Green

This is a response to the anti-pedicab video by the taxi lobby in NYC "Exclusively Yellow?"

PediHellians

yall come kick brawl ya hear
~~ Bobby

http://www.milehighpedicabs.com/drivers/pedihellians.pdf

http://www.myspace.com/pedihellians

NYC Updates on Pedicab Regulations

There's been a lot in the news and on blogs recently regarding the proposed regulations in NYC. Rather than posting the entire text of every article and post, here are links you can follow.

On NY Turf, Feb 28, 2007: City Council Set To Bote on Pedicabs Today, New REgs Will Crush Industry

New York Mag, Daily Intelligencer, Feb 28, 2007: Pedicab Junction

NYC Public Radio, Feb 28, 2007: Pedicabs: Nuisance or Transportation?

1010 WINS, Feb 28, 2007: City Council Member to Argue Against Limiting Pedicabs

NY1 News: Pedicab Drivers Brace for Big Changes

StreetsBlog, Mar 1, 2007: City Council Passes New Pedicab Regulations

New York Post, Mar 1, 2007: City Curbs Pedicabs

Gothamist, Mar 1, 2007: City Council Passes Pedicab Crackdown

Tonylimo, Celebrity Chauffeur, Mar 1, 2007: No More Freewheeling Pedicabs?

NewYorkology, Feb 28, 2007: City Council OKs rules for pedicabs and 325 limit

The Empire Zone, Mar 1, 2007: Pedicabs: Menace or Threat?

New York Post, Feb 28, 2007: City Puts Brakes on Pedi-Pests

I'll add to this list as I find more articles on the subject, so check back for anything new.

Did The City Force This Company Out?

The pedicab business has been KO’d in Salt Lake City Utah [for now]. The City crushed a growing pedicab business by issuing varying insurance requirements.

Salt Lake City, UT (Watch the Video)

(KUTV) You’ve seen them around town, the “Pedicabs” jetting people on the street from place to place.

But now they’re out of business and the owner says it’s because the city keeps changing its requirements.

Bill Gephardt decided to take a look.

This is about insurance requirements to run a business.

Sure, the law may set maximums and minimums, but it’s up to officials to decide exactly how much insurance is required in a particular case.

So, let’s take a look at the beginning, and what brought about the end, of the Pedicab business in Salt Lake City.

The so-called Pedicabs, they have been adorning the streets of downtown Salt Lake for the past two years. A quaint treat for visitors and regulars in the city.

Chad Cole invested thousands to get his business up and running. Giving tours, sharing in fun, and making sure regulars and tourists are comfortable

But now…

“We are officially out of business,” says Chad.

Chad’s Pedicab company is no more. “This is the original permit that we were shown,” Chad showed us his paperwork. He says it’s all because of varying insurance requirements, imposed by city officials.

“In the past 12 months,” says Chad, “we have been quoted 12 different insurance requirements.”

Chad says that when he first approached Salt Lake City in 2004 about starting a Pedicab business. The city attorney gave him this business-permit-draft, telling Chad that he would need to have about $500,000 dollars in insurance coverage. That would cost about $2,500 in premiums per year to insure his 5 bikes. That was affordable for Chad.

But then things changed.

“They changed that insurance requirement to a million dollars when we got our bikes and wanted to start our operation,” said Chad. Okay, that takes the premium to $3,750. Tough, says Chad, but still doable.

“They then told us that it had changed again and doubled to $2 million dollars,” Chad says. $2 million dollars. Four times what Chad says he was quoted just months earlier.

But, Chad really wanted to operate his Pedicabs so he decided to pay the now $7,500 annually to insure his five bikes at $2 million dollars.

But 6 months into operation, another surprise. “I received a letter January 9 of 2006,” Chad said, “that told me that I had 14 days to increase my insurance to $3 mil or they would pull my business license.

$3 million dollars! But Chad says he’s had no accidents and no claims.

Chad fought the increase and requested an ordinance to make it tougher for Salt Lake City to change the insurance requirements. The City relented and allowed him to stay at $2 million...for now.

But Chad closed down, and sold his Pedicabs, he says, because of the threat that his insurance could increase at any time.

So, we did some research. We needed to find a city that had Pedicabs whose insurance rates were among the highest in the entire nation. And that brought us here, to the city of San Diego.

On the streets of San Diego the Pedicab business is booming, with many competing Pedicab companies. The insurance requirement: $1 million dollars... Firm! San Diego does have one of the higher insurance requirements for the Pedicab operator.

Alright, so, what if Pops Pedicab owner Dale Hill was told he had to pay premiums on $2 million, or $3 million dollars of insurance. “That’s crazy!” Dale laughed, “It’s almost cost prohibitive to allow somebody to operate. I can’t imagine what their premiums would be.”

So, back at the Salt Lake City and County building, let’s see if we can figure out why they set the rates 2 or 3 times higher than the next highest city in the country.

Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson says they could actually make it up to $5 million dollars. That’s the amount the Utah legislature has set as the maximum amount anyone can collect if they sue the city.

But is that fair?

“We bent over backwards to keep his insurance coverage at the same level,” says Mayor Anderson.

Anderson says when it came to Chad Cole’s Salt Lake Pedicabs, the city never demanded the maximum. “What he told us his concern was was not the cost of the coverage, which again, remember, never ever changed from day one,” says Mayor Anderson.

So Bill asked, “Well, there was a threat that it would change.”

Mayor Anderson’s response? “Well, there was a speculation that it might change. We always gave him every comfort that we were working toward getting the coverage in fact reduced, not increased.”

“In my opinion they have done just about everything possible to ensure our failure from day one,” says Chad. Two years of working toward getting coverage reduced, with no action left Chad feeling defeated, he says. Now he’s out of business.

Mayor Anderson tells me he is developing an ordinance to meet the insurance needs for all types of businesses. He says he expects to present it to the city council in the very near future.