Pedal power: Ann Arbor resident is making a push for bicycle taxis downtown

by Dave Gershman | The Ann Arbor News
Monday February 09, 2009, 7:48 AM

Imagine a fleet of bicycle-powered taxis, ready to be hailed on the street at a moment's notice to ferry people across downtown Ann Arbor.
It's an interesting idea - though still just an idea right now - put forward by Barbara Annis, a resident of the city's Old West Side.

To make it happen, she'll need money, so she's working on a grant proposal, and she needs a community organization as a partner. She sees the bicycle-powered taxis, called pedicabs, operating as a nonprofit organization in a joint venture with an already-established organization.

Those are big hurdles, but being able to ride in a bicycle-powered taxi, or pedicab, doesn't seem so farfetched in a city that prides itself on being bicycle friendly and environmentally conscious. And the concept is sparking some conversation.

"My idea is that the rides would be free and that the cabs would be supported through advertising and sponsorships," said Annis, a semi-retired freelance writer.

Who would use the pedicabs? Lots of people, she says. The downtown is walkable, but sometimes the feet aren't willing. Annis cites her own experience: When she walks to the Ann Arbor Farmers Market, she frequently buys too much to lug it all home on foot.

Cities like New York and Grand Rapids have pedicabs, but Ann Arbor isn't as densely populated as a city like New York. And Ann Arbor's colder and often icier streets could be a drag during the winter, said Nancy Shore, director of Ann Arbor's getDowntown Program, which encourages alternate forms of transportation.

Pedicabs, usually seating two people, generally offer only limited protection from the elements.

But, Shore said, Annis has identified what's lacking in the city's transportation fabric - a public service people can use without timing their trips to a bus schedule. At least during the warmer months, Shore said, "I don't see why it can't be an option."

The pedicab vehicles cost about $3,500 to $4,000. There's also the costs of insurance and maintenance, and wages for employees - presumably many college-aged people who might like to pedal.

With 21 low gears, pedicabs are easy to pedal, said Annis, who thinks the downtown could support a fleet of 10.

Only time will tell if she can make it happen.

"We think it's a really cool idea," said Pete Hines, chairman of the advocacy group Washtenaw Bicycling and Walking Coalition. "It would raise (cycling) visibility and awareness."

Reporter Dave Gershman can be reached at 734-994-6818 or dgershman@annarbornews.com