Pedicabs faster, safer, sustainable transit

by Meredith Sladek, NY Bicycle Transportation Examiner


The next time you think about hailing a yellow cab, consider riding a pedicab instead.

Pedicabs, also known as cycle rickshaws or bicycle taxis depending on the design, are a means for transporting both passengers and cargo. They have one wheel in front and a carriage in the back supported by two other wheels. They are human-powered and the entire unit can weigh up to 200 lbs. They can also carry up to 800.

They're not just for tourists wanting a spin through Central Park. Pedicab operators have an in-depth knowledge of the city streets, knowing both shortcuts and the nearest dollar slice. They can be found cruising for fares both day and night, or are reachable by a phone call. They're safer than motorized cabs, due to the pedicab driver's greater visibility and easier maneuverability. They're slimmer, taking up less space and easing congestion. They have been used anywhere from transporting delegates in Denver during the 2008 Democratic National Convention to rounding up food for the homeless with City Harvest.

Besides being affordable (some cabs have a price list; others charge on a sliding scale; still others work for tips) and completely carbon-emission-free, pedicabs can also get passengers to their destinations more quickly, it turns out, than their motorized cousins:


Riding in one can whisk passengers through the pulsing heart of Manhattan while giving the most working-class of citizens a feeling of aristocracy. And, unlike many cabbies, pedicab cyclists actually enjoy their jobs.