I feel your pain

All you pedicab owner-operators, let me just say, "I feel your pain" when it comes to finding insurance.

We've been on the hunt for insurance for our new pedal cab operation, Colorado Rickshaw Company, and it's been UGLY! The options are limited, for sure, and the costs, restrictions and exclusions are all over the map. In recent weeks I've gotten a real education in a subject I didn't want to know that much about.

From what we hear from operators across North America, insurance is the biggest issue they face. Drivers may be the biggest hassle, but overall, the biggest concern is insurance.

There just aren't a lot of options. The coverage offered by some providers is questionable. Unfortunately, in order to operate, a lot of companies buy whatever is cheapest and still meets the requirements. They may think they're covered, but are they really?

I don't claim to be an expert in insurance, and I'm not going to tell you which insurance policy to buy, or which providers are the best. It really depends on your own particular circumstances, how your business is structured, and your tolerance for risk. What I can tell you is that there are significant differences in policies from one provider to the next.

Here are some questions you may want to ask before you plunk down a large chunk of cash:

• Has the insurance you're considering ever paid a claim? If so, what were the circumstances?
  
• If you report an incident, even if it never becomes a claim, are you charged a reporting or research fee?
  
• What is included and what is excluded?
  
• Is the insurance based on claims made or occurences? Either may be okay, but may require different reporting procedures, and the total deductible may change. (For example, if three passengers in an accident each file a claim, the deductible may apply to each passenger rather than the entire incident, thus tripling your out-of-pocket expense.)
  
• If a driver has an incident but doesn't report it, are you covered?
  
• Is there a deductible? If so, do you have enough in reserve to cover it?
  
• Are the drivers covered, or just the passengers? What about damage to the cabs or other property like cars?
  
• If you have a manager, assistant manager, or mechanic, what is their coverage under the policy?
  
• At what point does this insurance take over? Some policies only cover expenses in excess of those covered by motor vehicle or health insurance.
  
• Are the pedal cabs covered for damage, fire or theft? Does that coverage apply to street use, storage, or both?
  
• Is coverage limited to a specific geographical area like a city, county or region? Or can you take your cabs to an event like an airshow or car race outside of your general footprint? Does coverage extend to transport to or from an event?
  
• Is there an age limit for drivers?
  
• If the policy requires a "clean driving record," what does that mean? If someone gets a traffic ticket after they're approved, what happens?
  
• Are there any benefits for having safety equipment like lights and seat belts?
  
• Are there any benefits for having a training & street monitoring program in place?
  
• Do you have the ability to increase or decrease the number of cabs in your fleet?
  
• Is anything else included in the coverage like legal fees, etc.?
  
• Can you review a copy of the policy before you buy?
  
• If you change to a new insurance provider, are you covered by the original provider for incidents that happened while you were insured by them?

Other things to consider when choosing your insurance coverage are:

• Do you have written reporting procedures in place?
  
• Have you put into place any other systems to limit your liability?
  
• What are the driver's responsibilities in an incident?
  
• How well are your cabs maintained, and do you keep records?
  
• If your drivers aren't covered by your business insurance, do they have any other coverage in place like regular or catastrophic health insurance?

It takes time to evaluate your options. Plan to start looking for new insurance 4 to 6 weeks before you actually need it. Since pedicab businesses are still a nontraditional industry and there aren't any actuarial tables yet, brokers often need time to gather all the information required by the underwriters.

Do you (pretend to) care?

I read this post this evening and it got me thinking about how caring and not caring relates to pedicab drivers. (Hmmm... for some reason, most of what I read makes me think of some aspect of pedicabs.)

Does caring make a difference in the number of rides, size of tips, or just plain enjoyment of the streets if you care, or at least pretend to care?

And what exactly do you care about? The people on the street? The safety of your passengers? The experience of riding? Or your take at the end of the shift?

And, as Seth Godin suggests in this post, does pretending to care lead to actually caring? Does it make a difference?

Pretending that you care
Seth Godin 4/27/08

I spent part of the day in New York yesterday.

First stop, an expensive sporting goods store that prides itself on service. I bought some skates, paid and then asked the security guy (the one with all the shelves behind his desk, where people check stuff they bring in) if I could leave my stuff there for ten minutes while I ran an errand.

"No, I'm really really sorry," he said, "but we can't take responsibility and I'll get in big trouble if I do. I know it's a hassle for you..."

I left and did my errand. A little later, on my way back to the car, I had one last street to cross. Suddenly, a motorcade of 20 police cars, sirens roaring, whizzed by, blocking the crosswalk and making me miss the light (if anyone knows why NY City cops are suddenly doing this a lot, please let me know. Where are they going? Why? If it's an emergency, why don't they go faster?).

As I waited for the cops to go by, I watched a meter guy walk up to my car and slowly start to write me a parking ticket. I was being penalized for being a good citizen and waiting for the endless motorcade!

I ran up and begged.

He turned to me and said, "I'm so sorry. I know what a hassle it is, but once I press this yellow button here, I have to finish. But I bet if you go to court and complain, they'll waive it." Then he reached into his pocket and handed me a lollipop. "Thanks for coming to New York, and I'm sorry."

Except this story isn't true.

The guy at the sporting goods store just grunted at me. Explained it wasn't his job and just dared me to return the skates I had just bought. And the meter guy didn't even bother to acknowledge me or make eye contact.

No, you can't always hire exceptional people for these jobs. No, you can't always invest enough time to train them sufficiently. But yes, you can make, "pretending you care," a barely acceptable alternative.

It doesn't take much to take the edge off an encounter.

[Boy does this sound cynical. How inauthentic! How manipulative! Isn't it better to just hire people who actually care? Of course it is. But as far as I can tell, that's a lot harder than it looks--because so many organizations are organized around policies, not caring, and because so many employees have been trained not to care.

So, the essence of the lesson here is this: if people start out pretending to care, next
thing you know, they actually do care. They like the positive feedback and they like the way being kind makes them feel. It spreads. It sticks.]

For operators, how much do you care? How hard is it to find drivers who actually care? How can you tell? Do you bother to screen for drivers who care, and if so, how do you do it?

The Snow White Effect

When I train drivers to operate pedicab I stress to them the importance of having fun. I explain to them that if they set the bar at having fun when they drive that they will not only have fun but they will make money too. Of course, there are those drivers that climb upon their pedicabs with the sole intent of making money, to hell with the simplistic notions of having fun. If it works for them, so be it. I don’t begrudge those drivers

Well that last sentence isn’t all that true. I do have one caveat. I do begrudge those drivers when they work an event or venue and start bitching and bemoaning the fact that they can’t get any rides, and they aren’t making any money. And then at the end of the night when they are called upon to pay their rental fee the bitching starts all over. I’m sure you have heard it before, especially those drivers that have been around longer than me.

From where I sit in the “cheap seats” these drivers chase away potential fares. I started thinking about the various venues where the drivers interested in making money are always first to start complaining about how they aren’t making any money. And all it takes is one…it spreads like a virus, infecting other drivers and the way they think. The smiles tend to vanish, and what you are left with are drivers with chips on their shoulders and they all want a “break” on their rental fee.

So like I was saying, I started thinking about these drivers and these situation and I came up with my own theory. (Yeah, I know…I know…you have a theory too.) I call it the Snow White effect.

Everyone should be familiar with Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Well, in my theory, there are some drivers that take on the characteristics of several of the dwarfs. The first and the most obvious is:

"Grumpy:" Never smiles, scares away potential fares, the last person anyone wants a ride from is the driver that doesn’t look like they are having fun. First to bitch and bemoan. The last person you call when you need a second pedicab.

"Bashful:" Too quiet for their own good. Relies on the kindness of passer-bys rather than soliciting potential fares. Needs encouragement. Usually available when a second cab is needed. Easily swayed to the “Grumpy” side.

"Sleepy:" You guessed it! They are the ones that spend more time on the backseat than the front seat. When roused they can get the job done. Capable of transforming into “Grumpy.”

"Dopey:" Just can’t seem to get it together. One and done. Can talk the talk, but can’t pedal the pedal.

"Happy:" They smile, they are the one’s having a good time and that people remember and look for after the game, after the concert etc. Encourages “Bashful” and “Dopey.“ They are often disliked by “Grumpy.”

“Doc:” An older and wiser “Happy.”


Well, there you have it, The Snow White Effect. I’d classify myself as “Happy.”

Which dwarf are you?

Changes coming to San Diego

New rules may bring pedicabbies to heel

By Helen Gao
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
April 4, 2008

SAN DIEGO – Pedicabs have proliferated so much in downtown San Diego over the past decade, the city is planning tougher regulations to rein in the muscle-powered three-wheelers.

Overview
Background: More than 400 pedicabs operate in San Diego, mostly in the Gaslamp Quarter, at the waterfront and near Petco Park.

What's changing:
The city, working with pedicab owners and police, is trying to develop better regulations. A proposed ordinance calls for limiting the number of pedicabs in certain areas and requiring them to prominently post fares and other vital information.

The future: The ordinance is being presented to community groups for input. It's expected to reach the City Council in the fall.

Working with police and downtown businesses, city regulators are proposing to restrict the number of pedicabs in certain zones and require all to prominently post fares.

Zones would be carved out in downtown, Ocean Beach, Mission Beach, Pacific Beach and La Jolla. Only a certain number of pedicabs with special decals would be allowed in those zones, but how many has not been determined.

Pedicabbies with a city permit currently can roam pretty much anywhere in San Diego to pick up passengers. They are concentrated along the waterfront, Gaslamp Quarter and around Petco Park. If a limit on pedicabs is set, those without restricted-zone decals would have to find fares elsewhere.

The proposed ordinance also includes safety and consumer protection measures. For example, pedicabs would have to be marked with numbers assigned by the city and the company's name and phone number – requirements meant to give consumers information for calling in complaints.

The ordinance would reiterate that the California Vehicle Code applies to pedicabs; some drivers have been accused of being reckless. Pedicabbies would have to carry proof of insurance, and their vehicles could be impounded if the operators lack a valid California driver's license.

Pedicabs also would be prohibited from being parked in metered spaces. Downtown businesses have complained that pedicabs take up spaces meant for patrons. Zones where pedicabs can pick up and drop off passengers would be created instead.

Brad Jacobsen, a city associate traffic engineer, said pedicabs have reached a saturation point.

“There are some problems with sheer numbers. You do reach a threshold where it ceases to be a street ambience, where it starts to become a little bit of a nuisance,” Jacobsen said.

“We want to strike that balance. We think by putting a little bit more restriction on this and by bringing the numbers down a little bit, it will really benefit the businesses.”

Police estimate there are more than 400 pedicabs in the city. Some already post their fares. Drivers typically lease their vehicles from companies. How much they make depends on their ability to lure passengers.

At peak times, such as the summer or during major conventions, the ranks of pedicab drivers swell. Many come in from out of town and some arrive from out of the country.

“It gets really bad when everybody comes in from Russia, Poland, Turkey and Brazil,” said Holmes Walton, a local who has been driving a pedicab on and off for three years. “The market just gets flooded.”

Joao Ferreira of Brazil, who has been driving a pedicab for about three months, agrees that there are sometimes too many pedicabs, creating an environment that is “bad for business, bad for sidewalks and bad for traffic.”

Jacobsen said the city hasn't decided on a method to distribute the decals.

“We are trying to do this in an equitable manner so nobody corners the market,” he said.

The proposed ordinance is being floated around different communities for input and is expected to go before the City Council in the fall.

Jimmy Parker, executive director of the Gaslamp Quarter Association, which represents more than 400 businesses, welcomes better regulation.

Parker has heard anecdotal complaints about unfair charges for rides, so he is pleased with the proposed requirement to post fares. Most of the complaints he has heard are about pedicabs being on sidewalks, driving recklessly and taking up parking spots.

While the proposed regulations have drawn favorable reactions downtown, the La Jolla Traffic & Transportation Board has expressed skepticism.

Board member Joe LaCava is concerned that pedicabs would disperse from downtown to places like La Jolla, where they may not be wanted.

“If you've got a problem downtown, fix the problem downtown,” LaCava said. “Don't do anything that might push the problem elsewhere.”

Jacobsen said the reason why zones are being considered outside of downtown is to address the potential problem of pedicabs migrating outward.

Downtown motor Officer Scott Thompson believes once the stricter rules are in place, fly-by-night operations – and some of the problems – would disappear. Thompson stressed that pedicabs provide a valuable service for tourists and he wants to see them stay.

“We are just trying to make the industry more viable rather than tear the industry down,” he said.

[Thanks to my big brother for the heads up on this news.]

Love to have you with us in Raleigh

To anyone who is considering starting a pedicab business, or who wants to take an existing business to the next level:

I would strongly suggest that you attend this seminar. You are really going to need the fundamental information in the seminar to have a chance at a successful business.

I am in no way profiting at all from this seminar. My benefit is having successful Pedicab company owners representing the industry at a level which will advance us all to the next level, while shedding the misconceptions this business has acquired due to lack of leadership and consistency in owners.

This seminar, the only one of its kind, is for the first time going to be on the east coast and better yet, in Raleigh. I traveled to Denver, where it is normally held, to attend and it was worth the stretch in budget to do so. I credit the knowledge I gained to not just my company's success, but my company's overwhelming success.

The cost of it is peanuts compared to this risk of the overall investment to your company. It's worth spending your money on fewer cabs and getting quality training. Then buy more cabs and build your fleet as your business grows.

Check out the latest Raleigh Rickshaw media coverage in the Raleigh Downtowner. We are blazing a path to the gold Standard of Rickshaw/ Pedicab Companies and would love to have you with us !!!!!!!!!!

Donald Mertrud
Owner
Raleigh Rickshaw

Too Far, too much, hah!

Good day Pedicabbies!

It has occurred to me that I haven't contributed in awhile. In perusing the latest spring commentary about 'cabbin, a few things have come to me.

Well, the time to get angry about uninsured drivers is over...for now. LETS MOVE ON!

Ding...Ding...Ding...Ding...

What is a good night of pedicabbing? For my 4 years doing this job, I have seen countless types, maneuvers, and drivers all try to figure out what it is that attracts them to the streets. I think about my experiences, and it seems that the one job that has been steady for me in the last for years is riding a pedicab! I have done it full time, part time, and seasonally, and had a foray into establishing the highest pedicab company in north america. It must be said that drivers come and go. They start and stop for a variety of reasons. Continue riding.

Why do I come back? It has to do with the kooky cycling mind that you can see on http://www.sheldonbrown.com. RIP, Sheldon.

I get out there and approach whomever I can who I think I can get into my cab. I have been turned down, rejected, and even laughed at. The secret, whether you like it or not, pedicab success comes from inside, with a crazy pair of legs, and a bit of a self-gratifying tendency to hustle. My secret: get as many rides as possible.

It doesn't matter (oh, it actually does, but for sales philosophy sake) if they pay you. It matters in the all important quotient of jealousy of other drivers. Not to distrust, but other drivers or people do not know if you are charging or willfully giving out Karma. Think about it. Truthfully, the weather, the cold, the rain, the snow, it wears a person. Just ask the Peloton of the Tour of California. If you love it, it isn't suffering, right?

Are you motivated by money? By fun? By the intoxicating and smelly downtown streets? All of the above are valid reasons.

How far? Hell, I will use the standard "If you pay me $50, I'll drive you in my car, to where you need to go." I have seen this work, and the driver collected $60. Out here, anything is possible. Everyone wants a story. Would I take someone 5 miles away? Sure. Price is crucial in this transaction.

You must negotiate price, and be ready for some heavy spinning. Do what you think you can handle. The customer will not know the difference unless they have pedicabbed before. To us, we are the few. We are cyclists, gluttons for punishment, but albeit, fit to the bone. And we can negotiate. But negotiate on price. What you do as your habits are up to you. Just don't ruin it for the rest of us.

I SAID SPINNING, NOT PETTING! Sex is a strange motivator, lets me honest. However, being invited to party, do shots, or go and hang out; it doesn't matter. It is my choice to stop. But, most sexual commentary is a part of the job. Really, I turn it down as puffery. I have yet to meet my perfect wife on the pedicab streets. Come to think about it, I have lost 3 relationships because of this job. Nothing I did, I assure you. I just happen to love bikes.

I have to say, publicly, that the urban velo article captures pedicabbery. It is more than a job. It is an extension of freedom, cycling, hard work, ear-to-the-ground socializing and a great study in human behavior. A strange mix of self-sales, bouncer, EMT, minister, bartender, cowboy, an undercover police officer, a marketing guru, and proclaimed superman. Not to mention a bit of a gambler. Trust me, superman, or woman is what being in the saddle is all about.

I propose the establishment of a pedicab cycling team. Cycling season has started. Riding a cab is some of the finest interval training one can get. Better than riding a 55X12 track bike. I am working on getting a track bike, but what beats the pedicab?

I am notorious for wanting to race whenever I get in the saddle. Anyone have any thoughts about a jersey? I think a nationwide presence of pedicab representation would be great! I have raced in Minnesota and Colorado, under the auspices of Mountain pedicab company, AKA Team Pedicab. With cycling season starting, for those interested in road racing, track racing, mountain bike, off-road triathlons, or really just the prospect of establishing a pedicab race at some point, I want a team. We are capable of such a thing.

This is what I can come up with right now. I bid the with happy cycling, and the prospect of a non-snow covered street, and non-existent slush.

Arigato.

beefsteak.

Pedicabbie experience after dark

This is a fantastic article written by a pedicab driver in Columbia, Missouri, and published in Urban Velo. I am only posting an excerpt of the article with a link to the rest, but I just think it gives such great insight into his experience, that I encourage you to read it in its entirety. Definitely go to the original article to read it and check out the great photos. Thanks, Johnny in Columbia, for such a thoughtful article.

Pedicabs After Dark (excerpt)
By Johnny Tarr

While the pedicab itself is humble, a ride on it is amazing in contrast. A three-hour shift makes the whole day perfect. I adjust the seat, check the lights, and then the moment I roll off the lot I’m Superman. This must be how it feels to command a kingdom, or walk on water. Traffic treats me royally. Everybody waves back. The cab itself is an eye-magnet that makes its riders instant celebrities.

I feel people on the sidewalks getting excited as the cab rolls down the street, so I invite them on. Some folks hop right on, exclaiming how I’ve come at just the right moment, but some potential riders need convincing. They might give nonsense excuses about how they’re only going two blocks, and surely that’s too near or too far. Or the mothers, bless their hearts, say that they would feel terrible about making me work. Nothing but a show of machismo beats that fallacy, so I tell them I’m the strongest man in Columbia. They don’t really believe me but that’s fine because I believe myself and that’s the important thing, so they get in anyway.

Read the entire article at UrbanVelo.com...

People love to hear stories about Pedicabbin

During my travels and training of new drivers the one part everyone seems to enjoy the pedicab stories. The business is full of funny, crazy, heart wrenching and just stupid stories. Doing this for almost 4 years I am full of them. But I like hearing other driver’s stories too. Here are some of the categories that they can fall into. We have a few from when we did this before. But there seems to be a whole new batch of readers and riders out there. I have some new ones too.

1. Stupidest ride. (What was I thinking)?
2. Craziest ride?
3. Longest ride?
4. Strangest people on the cab?
5. Any others you want to add?

Please comment with all the juicy detail of yours.

Raleigh Rickshaw crew

Check out this great photo of the Raleigh Rickshaw crew!

Thanks for sending the photo, Donald. We're looking forward to seeing you in Raleigh at the 4-day Pedicab Training at the end of March.

Ed Begley Jr. interviewed in a pedicab

Hold onto your hats, boys and girls! This video clip at The New York Times web site will blow you away! If you have a wind turbine handy this story may actually put energy back on the grid.

Thanks, Peter, for posting this on Rickshaw Forum:
"Ed Begley, Jr., goes for a ride with NY Times science reporter and discusses serious environmental issues on a pedicab.....fresh video reporting on New York Times. And the pedicab is treated seriously."

At the end of the video, Begley lauds pedicabs as "the best way to get around Manhattan."

A Eco-Chat With Ed Begley Jr.

Cycle Rickshaws in Inda

An exciting Cycle Rickshaw Ride ...

You can see them standing in colorful rows outside the Railway station. Most of the cities and towns in India are highly polluted. The main reason is the air and noise pollution caused by transport vehicles, specially petrol and diesel-powered two and three-wheelers. Among all big and small vehicles Pedicab Rickshaw is a famous vehicle in India. This vehicle looks like a blend between a rickshaw and a bicycle. The driver pedals a pedicab instead of pulling the vehicle. It has three wheels with one wheel in front under the driver and two wheels supporting the passengers. We see that Pedicabs have different names depending on where they're situated.

There are presently close to 18 million petrol-powered two wheelers and about 1.5 million petrol and diesel-powered three-wheelers in India. It is estimated that close to 2 million cycle rickshaws ply on the Indian roads carrying about 6-8 billion passenger-kms/year. They provide employment to more than 2 million rickshaw pullers.

Winter Cycling Has Its Own Rewards

Winter Cycling Has Its Own Rewards
By TERRENCE PETTY
Associated Press Writer
Posted: Feb. 12, 2008 at WRAL.com

PORTLAND, Ore. — Studded tires for bikes? Sure. You can also get chains if you want to join the intrepid cyclists who commute to work on two-wheelers during the winter, or who just want to have fun in the snow.

"I've been riding a bicycle for my main transportation for over 30 years. It's a force of habit," says John Schwenker, a 51-year-old aerospace engineer who lives near Boulder, Colorado

He rides four miles to his office and four miles back, even in the snow.

"It's a matter of going slow in the stuff," he says.

Bikes aren't just for sunny summer weather. There are those across the country - whether for environmental reasons, fun or fitness - who so love cycling that they ride year-round, pretty much regardless of the weather.

It may sound masochistic, letting sleet, rain and snow lacerate your face while you try to stay upright on a bike. But there's something weirdly liberating about hurling yourself into the elements - as long as you're smart about it.

WHAT TO WEAR:

Beware hypothermia. Wear layers, and clothing that breathes. It may be cold outside, but as you pedal through snow and cold rain you are going to heat up and sweat. Invest in a good foul-weather cycling jacket. Some riders wear heavy-duty cycling tights. Some wear snow pants. For the base layer - the clothing closest to your skin - stay away from cotton because it will feel wet and cold. Synthetics are better, and cyclists are rediscovering wool. Check with local cyclists to see what works in your conditions.

For footwear, some swear by the same style of "clipless" racing shoes they use during the fair-weather months - the kind of shoes that lock into the bike's pedals. If you go that route, get some neoprene booties to wear over the shoes and help keep out moisture and cold.

In colder climates, consider wearing regular winter boots for warmth. Use them with platform pedals, rather than clipless ones.

For gloves, look for something that will keep out the moisture and cold but also let your skin breathe. One option is the "lobster glove," so called because it looks like a big claw. You could also use weatherproof "bullwinkles," or "pogies," which resemble oven mitts and go over the handlebars. You slip your hands into them.

Besides a helmet, you'll need something over your head to keep in body heat. A balaclava would be a good choice.

RIDE SAFELY:

Make sure you are visible to motorists. Get a headlight that can be seen from a distance, and a blinking taillight that's also bright. In fact, consider getting more than one taillight. Put one on the back of your helmet and attach others to various places on your bike. Light yourself up like a Christmas tree.

Slow down. In snow, sleet or rain, it will take longer to come to a stop than on a dry road. If it doesn't feel safe, stay off the bike.

When you come to an intersection, make eye contact with motorists getting ready to pull into the street to be sure they see you.

Adapt your speed and riding style to the conditions. Powdery snow can be easy to ride through, but it depends how much there is. If there's ice beneath it, the going can be really tricky. Snow packed down by a snowplow can be fun to ride on, but again, be on the alert for ice. Riding through accumulations of wet snow can be exhausting. Gear down and spin through it.

YOUR BIKE:

Winter is brutal on a bicycle. If you want to ride on a regular basis in bad weather, acquire a "sacrificial bike," something cheap that you won't weep over when it's become mechanically useless.

Riders in the Pacific Northwest have "rain bikes" for winter's long rainy season. Some of the bikes have old steel or aluminum frames, come from a junkyard or were bought for a song. Some are sturdy mountain bikes or bikes built for cyclocross.

A rain bike needs fenders. Without them, rainwater and wet muck splashes all over your back - and into the face of anyone riding behind you.

In regions where winter is more snowy than rainy, foul-weather riders also tend to choose old clunkers, mountain bikes and others that can take a beating.

In Green Bay, Wisconsin, for instance, Mike Gerke rides every day of the year. The 50-year-old operates a pedicab; uses a bike for his office-cleaning business; and also just rides for the fun of it - racking up between 8,000 and 12,000 miles a year.

During the winter, Gerke sometimes uses a "fixed-gear" bike, a stripped-down variety with fewer moving parts to break or get gunked up. When snow is beginning to accumulate, he might ride his mountain bike instead.

"The wider stance of the mountain bike, with wider tires, helps give you stability," Gerke said.

Schwenker, of Boulder, rides a cruiser-style bike with braking mechanisms on the hubs of both wheels, rather than rim brakes, which can clog with snow and are less reliable in wet conditions.

Whether you are riding in snow or rain, choose a durable tire because in the winter there's more junk on the road that can slice a tire. Many riders choose mountain bike tires for snow because of their knobby tread. For added traction, you can buy them with studs. Sometimes Schwenker wraps chains onto his tires.

THE PAYOFF:

In Portland, there's a hard-core group of riders who can't wait for winter. For them, riding out into farm country while clouds nudge against the Cascade foothills and rain pours down can be nearly mystical.

Todd Gee of Chicago also knows the feeling. A 37-year-old computer programmer, Gee takes part in snow rides in the Windy City. The group meets early in the evening, then rides to the lakefront or some other pleasant place.

"One of the nice things about snow rides - it's very quiet," said Gee. "Snow deadens the constant noise of the city."

Funny thing... this article was written for a Portland, Oregon audience, appeared on a web site for a television station in Raleigh, North Carolina, and features 2 people we know -- Mike Gerke (gike) in Green Bay, Wisconsin and John Schwenker in Boulder, Colorado. It's a small world after all!

specialized sub-blog

With all the pedicab blogs out there, some are focused on national issues, some seem to be localized. ALL GOOD! The pedicab yahoo group comes out of the southwest. This blog comes out of Denver. Austin TX has one. New York city has one. Florida has one. I have started one for the Northern Midwest. It is meant for operators/operations north of "the line", not out east,west, or south. Please give a visit, sign up, and keep the good vibe going. Us "up nort" have different challenges than the more climate friendly locations. Ride on...for profit.

Pedal Pusher: Amesbury teen runs Newburyport Pedicab for charity

I meant to post this a long time ago. Blake Harris and Kevin Murphy consulted with us at length by phone and email before they got their operation up and running in Newburyport, MA. We were happy to see this great article online.

Pedal Pusher: Amesbury teen runs Newburyport Pedicab for charity - Amesbury, MA - Amesbury News

Harris is at the desk, fielding calls and talking via radio to the company’s drivers out in the field — he is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the fledgling business. Blake Harris is a 17-year-old prep school student. Read more...

Just goes to show you that age and maturity have little, if anything, to do with one another.

Things that matter

“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” – Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Gike's comments on my previous post "Wake up and Repent" got me to thinking. As the big dog in Denver Pedicabdom, how much responsibility do we bare in this situation? And what about the other legit operators in town? Where are they in all of this?

By default, we have been the spokespersons for the pedicabs here in Denver because we are the largest, have been here the longest and are the public face of the industry. When there's a problem, we get the call.

The true professional pedicab operation gets insurance, gets licenses, pays taxes, maintains their bikes, and trains anyone who rides for them. Their drivers don't drink and then drive, don't drive recklessly, don't gouge or overcharge. They are conscientious, courteous, friendly, and safety-conscious.

There is a group of independents who don’t think they have to follow any rules or listen to anyone. This group has ridden the coat tails of the legitimate companies (MHP in particular) for years. We're the ones who meet with the business community and talk about how great pedicabs are for Denver. We're the ones donating tours and time and energy to charities like PBS and Race for the Cure. We're the ones who get the phone calls when there's a complaint or incident. We're the ones promoting pedicabs in Denver and around the country. We're the ones who smoothed things over with the venue when there were problems last year and the year before. These actions benefit ALL the pedicab drivers in Denver, not just those who ride for Mile High.

Whenever we've tried to do anything to stabilize or legitimize the industry here, they push back. "F*** you, man! I'm gonna do what I want. I don't care about anybody but myself. The rest of you can f*** off!" For far too long, they've been tolerated, allowed to operate and continue to put the industry at risk. If MHP is the big dog on the street, then they're the annoying little ankle biters.

Who is responsible for the actions of these drivers? Does a new driver get to makeup new rules and just start riding or disregard the existing one because they simply don’t like them?

Which brings me back to my original point -- how much responsibility do we bare? We could have been more aggressive in getting them out. We could have gone to the city and demanded better enforcement of the regulations. We could have called the police every time we saw an infraction. We could have negotiated exclusive rights for our drivers to operate at the venues rather than trying to set up systems that would allow everyone to operate if they followed the rules. But we didn't want to be perceived as anti-competition. We didn't want to expose the naked nasty underbelly of pedicabs to the public. We thought it could cause more harm than good and things would work out somehow. Maybe we caved.

And how much responsibility do the other legit operators bare? At least as much as we do. Do they fully train their drivers, especially on pedicab etiquette and the unwritten rules? Do they monitor their actions on the street? Some of the other operators may have insurance, etc., but are reckless and rude, flaunting the rules at every opportunity.

Now for the individual drivers out there. What's their responsibility? What have they got to lose? In some ways, more than we do. These punks are their competition. They have to deal with them every time they're out. What do they do to keep everybody in line? Do they call the cops? Do they report incidents to the parking management at the venues or someone else? Or do they just sit around and complain? What's their part in the solution? Peer pressure is a powerful force.

Can't we all just get along? That phrase is about to make me puke! When do they try to get along with us? Don't they realize that they would benefit more by working with us rather than against us? Why are we always the bad guys? Because we would hold people accountable. Because we believe that the rules and regulations apply to everyone. It's hard to be cooperative with people who don't want to cooperate.

I say ENOUGH! I'm sick of playing the games. I'm sick of being nice. I'm sick of just trying to run my own business and ignoring the stupidity of everyone else. I'm sick of trying to make things better for all the pedicab operators. NO MORE! Now you've really pissed me off!

A business associate told me last week, "Don't do this for ego; do it for money!" This is a real business for me. Not just some fly-by-night adventure. These twits are jeopardizing my business, my ability to make money. I've sunk a lot of time and energy into pedicabs. I've been working to help this fledgling industry spread its wings and take flight. I'm in this for the long haul. I'm not willing to sit back and allow a bunch of jackasses to ruin my livelihood.

I'm silent no more!

Wake up and Repent!

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.

One More Time

This post appeared on the Pedicab Yahoo Group. Very well written observations by Billy O in Phoenix. We have and still are experiencing some of the same issues in Denver, for now on a smaller scale. We hear about similar situations from other operators across the country.

All of us are judged by each of us.

The whole industry was given yet another black eye over the last couple days in Scottsdale during the Super Bowl parties.

Raiders from San Diego showed up.

I know that not all San Diego riders are like the ones who were most visible out there last night. And I know we have riders here in Phoenix who are just like the San Diego people who so completely and thoughtlessly came in to rape and run at this event.

They say "we just charge what the market will bear". Except the effects of their charging 20 and 40 bucks a head plus tip will linger long after they have left here. And the ripples of gouging go outward from here to affect the entire industry, all cross the country.

They say they have the right to charge 80 bucks for a ride because it cost them so much to get here, and they have to eat, and pay for hotel rooms and gas on top of lease. So its okay to gouge the people attending a major event, because, you know, the people are here to spend money anyway.

Its okay because even after being told that nobody gets to run in Glendale because the City has decided to protect itself from predatory pedicab practices, its okay to go to a nearby city and give yet another city a reason to ban human powered ransportation.

Its okay to crowd the doorways of events, to jam as many rigs as possible as close as possible to the security checkpoints because the cops let it happen.

Its okay to cut in front of lines that have been formed by the people who got there first because the well mannered people with an eye to the future will refuse to start fist fights at the event as a way to enforce fair operational practices.

Its okay to do hit and runs in parking lots and in grid locked traffic cuz you'll be gone in a day and theres no way to get caught when the cops are so busy.

Its okay to do whatever you can get away with because tomorrow never comes.

I know that not all San Diego pedicabbers are like this. Not all of them act like they were trained by the old bike man limo company. And I know that we have people here in the Valley who act like that too. The worst of human nature is not confined to any one geographical area.

All of us are judged by each of us. The true soul riders, the professionals, will be invisible when seen next to the raiders who think the whole world is their own private toilet.

The single biggest threat to the human powered transportation industry is some of the all too human people doing it.

with huge regret and great sadness

sincerely,

Billy O

If you're not already a member of the Yahoo Group, sign up and read the comments. Just go to yahoo.com and search for "pedicab" under groups. Very interesting.

A follow up comment:

the Police and the Property Owners find it much easier to just ban all of us rather than try to take the time to find out who is professional and who is predatory.

Greetings from Austin, and "Are Pedicabbers Terrorists?"

Pedicabbers,

I have been asked by Greg of Mile high to contribute to this blog based on my experience with blogging and my outlook on the pedicab industry.

For reference, you can check out my other active blog at http://austinpedicab.org. I am trying to keep it more locally focused issues that affect the Austin Texas region. I see Pedicabblog.com as having more of a national or international focus.

One thing that has been missing in the AustinPedicab (Austin), PedicabNews (NYC), and the
PedicabBlog (Denver) is discussion about the differences and or similarities between pedicabbing in different cities and regions.

I'd also like to discuss the social place of the "Western" pedicab driver as compared to that of the "Eastern" pedicab driver.

One interesting tid-bit of recent news on this topic was that a Filipino who had been "posing as a pedicab driver" was arrested under suspension that he is a terrorist.

The group that he is accused of being associated with the Abu Sayyaf group is said to have ties to Al Quieda. He is accused of being involved in the beheading of 10 Filipino Marines.

My questions are these:

1. Do disenfranchised, underground economies give cover to extremists?
2. Are American pedicab drivers potential terrorists?

Perhaps the odd chacters that we see in the Austin pedicab community just like being independent contractors instead of employees. What ever the case, we all know that "Eastern" Pedicab Drivers can kick some ass.

What's the difference?

This is a great little video highlighting the difference between pedicabs and taxis.

Back in action

I'm sorry for my absence on the blog over the past several weeks. As some of you know, my elderly stepdad had been fighting a prolonged battle with lung cancer. I was the primary caregiver for both him and my mom.

Sadly, he passed away at the end of July. His final weeks took much of my time and energy. Plus, making funeral arrangements and dealing with tons of paperwork for insurance, bank accounts, and such over the past few weeks, has left little time for blogging.

My apologies to all who regularly visit this blog to get information on the world of pedicabs. I'm back in action now, and I'll do my best over the next few days to catch up on the news.

Tez

p.s. If you'd like to read more about my ordeal, please visit my other blog, Teri's Brain.