Bicycle cabs could be rolling through Naperville next month

A father-son team hopes Naperville approves their plan to offer bicycle cab rides, a la Oak Park and other cities.

By Greg Canfield iSPECIAL TO THE TRIBUNE
April 3, 2009





Pedicabs — bicycle-powered taxis — could begin transporting people around downtown Naperville as early as next month.

The City Council has approved the concept and on Wednesday will vote on a proposal to permit a one-year trial for a pedicab business. Naperville resident Brett Dingeldein, owner of GreenStreet Pedicabs, pitched the idea to the city, citing how they are compatible with the city's goals of being energy efficient and reducing traffic congestion downtown.

He said the focus would be on short trips, such as to downtown destinations from the 5th Avenue train station, the city's parking garages and remote parking lots. Specific routes and rates have not been determined.

Once people know they can easily leave the train or parking garages, maybe they'll use them more frequently, "possibly making one small step in reducing the parking congestion in downtown Naperville," Dingeldein said.

Dingeldein, who would operate the service with his son, Matthew, said they could have three vehicles on the street by mid-May.

"It would only take about six weeks for the pedicabs to arrive," he said. "We've held off on buying them to find out how many pedicabs the city will allow."

Dingeldein said each pedicab costs about $4,200, carries up to two passengers and reaches speeds of 12 to 15 m.p.h.

They are used in many U.S. cities. Oak Park has allowed the service for several years, and a restaurant in Joliet recently started offering the service.

Rick Carter has run Rickshaw Rick's Tour and Taxis in Oak Park since 2005. Weather permitting, he starts pedaling on Earth Day in April and continues until Halloween.

"It seems to have been pretty well-received," Carter said. "I used to work with double-decker buses and like one of the guys there used to say, 'If it looks weird, funny or interesting, people want to ride it.' Of course, being eco-friendly is a popular thing so that helps, too."

Carter acknowledged last summer's soaring gas prices boosted interest in his business. He charges $5 per quarter-hour per adult passenger, with children on laps riding free.

"When everybody was taking such a beating at the pump, I had no worries. I think that resonated with a lot of folks," he said.

The bulk of Carter's service involves tourism, such as taking visitors to view the many Frank Lloyd Wright homes in Oak Park, but he also gets requests to make short customized trips.

Oak Park Village Clerk Sandra Sokol said the town has no ordinance governing pedicabs but requires the company to be insured and licensed as a solicitor. Routes are limited to Oak Park's downtown area and tourist sites, she said, adding that there have been no complaints about pedicabs.

In Joliet, Derek Brenczewski, owner of The Department restaurant, said he secured a license to operate pedicabs before he opened two months ago. He does not charge for the service and said he is the only operator in the city.

Naperville Councilmen Jim Boyajian and Richard Furstenau expressed concern at a recent council meeting that pedicabs could cause additional congestion or pose a safety risk. But Police Chief David Dial said he is unaware of any statistics that indicate pedicabs pose a safety hazard.

Their use also has the support of the Downtown Naperville Alliance. Executive Director Katie Wood said the group had initial worries that have been addressed.

"The key is that they are not being allowed on Washington Street and Chicago Avenue," the area's most congested streets, Wood said. "We were skeptical at first, but after hearing all the information, our management council concluded there was not strong enough reason to oppose the service and compelling reasons to try it.

"We think it might just be a good way to people to and from the parking decks."