In Denver, as in most cities, sporting events provide great opportunities for pedicab drivers to make money. With 7 or so pro teams in our downtown area, plus concerts and other events, these sports venues are important arenas for our drivers and the other pedicab operations in the city.
Now, one of our most popular venues is threatening to ban pedicabs altogether. There have been little incidents each season for the past couple of years. Until now, we've been able to convince the management that pedicabs are a good thing for their patrons and should be allowed to ride on the property. Not any more.
Unfortunately, there are those in our industry who think the world somehow owes them something. The rules don't apply to them because they don't much care what they leave behind -- good or bad. They just do whatever they want and the hell with all the rest. They won't be around to clean up the mess. If pedicabs are banned, they'll just do something else (although I'm not sure what they could do that would be better). As one indy driver told us last year, "I don't care. I'll just deliver groceries in my pedicab."
After incidents of rudeness to patrons, downright nastiness to staff, blatantly ignoring the rules and requests of the venue, reckless and/or drunk driving, etc. the venue management was upset. Finally, after a staffer carrying her 2-year-old was knocked down in the snow by a pedicab last week, management said ENOUGH! As the largest and best-known pedicab company in Denver, we got the call. No more pedicabs on the property.
We know who the trouble-makers are -- the ones who say "F*** YOU!" anytime someone says something to them, and the ones who nod in agreement until your back is turned and they give you the finger. They know who they are. These I-don't-give-a-shit-about-anyone-but-myself punks may have cost all the pedicab drivers in the city a valuable opportunity to make money.
We tried to warn them. After an angry call from the management last year and threats to ban pedicabs then, we told them this could happen if everyone didn't behave and follow the rules. We got the same response we got before... "F*** YOU! I don't have to do what you say! You're not the boss of me!"
Can't we all just get along?
I'm so sick of that! Obviously... NO! we can't!
It would be nice. In a perfect world, a utopia, we'd all get along, appreciate each other and the opportunities we have. We'd all treat one another with respect. It would be nice, if everyone followed the rules, cared about safety and service. It would be nice if everyone had a valid pedal cab license, business license, insurance, lights, brakes -- all those niceties that make a business legit.
Alas, Pedicabdom isn't a perfect world. Along with most of our drivers, we just hoped the hooligans would just go away. We all know who causes the most problems, and exchange complaints about them all the time. But what to do? Break their legs? Flatten their tires? Steal their shoes? Slap their wrists? (Is there anyplace that still uses stocks?) I'm not one to advocate violence, but... DAMN! ENOUGH is ENOUGH!
WAKE UP PEOPLE! Repent! Get it together! This is your wake-up call.
Monday, February 04, 2008
Wake up and Repent!
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4 comments:
Very sorry to hear about you'all losing a venue. If an indie is not following the rules, can't you have them arrested? We have the privledge to operate at Lambeau Field. We ask permission every year, send them the required insurance requirements, etc... They ask us to monitor any "illegal" practices or operators. We are a service that the venue has on their preferred provider list. They will call if a fan needs assistance to exit the stadium. (we actually get calls from fans who got our number from the Packers and need pedicab service for the next game) EMT's and police also have our cell phone numbers. There are cops and security guards everywhere on game days. Even off the lot, if a cabber is breaking the rules, violating any city ordinances, we have them busted. Local cabbers will not let unlicensed or 'illegal' action to occur. City and municipal law enforcment are very willing to assist us. Some of the bike cops ride with us thru heavy ped traffic. We have 'trained' the local police to watch for overloaded cabs, no lights, and reckless operating. I think we have safeguarded the pedicab community in Green Bay by following and enforcing the rules.
I think some metaphorical legs need breaking! I don't know who ran the staffer with a child down or how the situation was handled. We shouldn't jump to conclusions about this, but whoever was reckless enough to knock a person carrying a child down needs to be dealt with accordingly. Their actions have cost all the drives a large sum of potential income. In our society when this happens it is common to file a lawsuit against the offender. I think this might be the proper action to take here. If its an independent rider we should seek to have their bikes taken along with some cash as well. If it is a renter, we should seek more cash from them. Whoever was this reckless should never ride again. We need to respect the people around us and do our best not to have any accidents. When accidents do happen you need to stop and asses the damage. Help the person up, exchange information, be a professional. All this being said, I am not a lawyer, but I think one may be needed in this situation
Thanks for the comments Chris. Unfortunately, this isn't just about one venue or one incident. It's a much bigger issue than that. How do we solve the overall problem?
Hmm how about "I'm Sorry". This is NOT about one event! This is over all how we operate. So we break the legs of the guy who or girl who did this.... So what! Do we break the legs of everyone who screws up cut up his bike with a chop saw? Heh there will be 10 more to take their place. Lets get some enforcement to do the bike taking and insurance checking. Do you know anyone named Bruno? The drivers who are out there need to do some leg breaking on the drivers who drink and drive, ride like total idiots like riding backwards and standing on the handle bars. Who has the most to lose. Do something before we lose the right to ride anywhere!
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