Community Bike Programs
Pedicabs
Cycle Rickshaws
Where To? A first-generation Veloform CityCruiser pedicab with electric assist (Photo by the author)
There is a new generation of modern, advertiser-supported electrically-assisted pedicabs ready to take your destination around town in comfort and style.
Pedicabs aka pedal cabs, bikecabs, cyclos, trishaws or cycle rickshaws can help cities dominated by cars to reduce smog and gridlock, creating a greener cityscape and providing a clean alternative for residents and tourists alike to taxis, tour buses, public transit even to walking. They should not be banned (as some city governments have sadly done) but permitted on streets where speed limits do not exceed 50km/h.
Human Powered Vehicle: pedicabs are useful to both city locals and visitors alike (Photo: edgarzuniga on flickr)
In general, regulation of pedal cab owners/operators with local authorities (for example, the police or a municipal government agency) should be required in order to keep the market in check and to avoid the proliferation of unsafe vehicles and uncertified drivers.
Hire rates for pedicabs are invariably more expensive than a regular automotive taxi and will also vary from city to city within a country. Within reason, there tend to be no limits set on distances travelled by pedicab. Further, pedicabs can often access areas of the city not permitted by car, including parks, making them useful for sightseeing by bike.
Keywords
pedal cab, Pedicabs, pedicab, pedicabs, pedapod, cycle rickshaws, bugbug, cyclo, trishaw, collectivos, boda boda, trikes, human powered vehicles, HPVs, zero emission, taxi, vehicle for hire,
