Here Come Pedicabs, The Horse-Drawn Carriages Of The Bike World
Your next cab ride around Philly may be inside a Velo-parkcab. The Philadelphia-based company happily announced that pedicabs in Philly are now legal, having received a stamp of approval (a signed bill allowing for regulation recognition) by Mayor Nutter. The Velo-parkcab looks like the combination of a Smart Car and a bike, pedaled by manpower (thus the “green collar” sustainability).
With the new green light on pedicabs, we can only assume that you will be seeing your friends employed, sweating and hauling businessmen and tourists around our city. Or maybe you won’t; the Velo-parkcab website lists the following requirements for a position: “Driver’s License with a Clean Driving Record, Personable, Enthusiastic, Positive, Outgoing Personality, Environmentally Sensitive and Knowledgeable about Philadelphia, Passion for Cycling and an Entrepreneurial Spirit, Physically-fit, Motivated, and Responsible, and Cell Phone [ownership].” A tall order for a human packmule. Tip well.
December 14th, 2009 at 1:35 pm
Which lane will they be using? They seem a little wide for the bike lane, and a little too slow for a traffic lane, how about the sidewalk?
December 14th, 2009 at 1:41 pm
Had to hire one of these once to get to a reading in Manhattan on time (I couldn’t get a cab and was blocks away from any subway). Made for a great entrance.
December 14th, 2009 at 1:41 pm
In DC they are normally in the traffic lane, but only in the touristy areas that most drivers avoid anyway.
December 14th, 2009 at 2:46 pm
they also use the traffic lanes in nyc
December 14th, 2009 at 4:59 pm
I’m not using human powered transport unless I can get a rickshaw. To Johnny Brendas, chop chop!
December 14th, 2009 at 6:12 pm
Savannah, GA has had these for several years now. Works well in that historic town, and makes good part(y) time work for the SCAD students, as I suspect it will for our own artstars.
But the question is, who will run over one first – angry DiCicco motorists who feel vindicated at attacking cyclists these days? Or cabbies looking to squash the competition?