Pedicab proposal Bike-powered taxis seen as viable

Sunday, February 15, 2009
BY DAVE GERSHMAN
The Ann Arbor News
Imagine a fleet of bicycle-powered taxis, ready to be hailed on the street at a moment's notice to carry people throughout downtown Ann Arbor.

It's an interesting idea - although still just an idea right now - put forward by Barbara Annis, a resident of the Old West Side.

To make it happen, she'll need money; 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 in a joint venture with an already established organization.

Those are big hurdles, but being able to ride in a bicycle-powered taxi, 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 those cities. And Ann Arbor's colder and often icier streets could be impediments during winter, said Nancy Shore, director of the getDowntown program in Ann Arbor, which encourages alternative forms of transportation.

Pedicabs, which usually seat two people, also 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 the pedicabs.

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

"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.''