Pedicabs find niche in Decatur, but going is slow elsewhere in area

By Jamie Gumbrecht

There’s a new way to get around in Decatur, different even from the bicycles, scooters, rent-by-the-hour cars and mass transit that already make the city unique.

It involves a pair of pedicabs — bright yellow boxes large enough to seat two or three passengers, attached to an adult-sized tricycle — powered by Mike Gerke’s legs. For a few bucks, he runs short tours around town, takes tired event-goers to their parked cars or provides easy trips home after a long night out.

His pedicabs are the first to operate around Atlanta with the local government’s blessing, but he’s not the only one who wants to see more on the road.

Gerke, 52, and his wife moved to Decatur last year from Green Bay, Wis., after years of pedaling Packers fans around Lambeau Field parking lots for pay. Pedicabs have become part of traffic in cities from New York to Denver to Savannah, but Gerke thought the small city was a “perfect” candidate for short, person-powered trips.

After his city-designated six-month trial is complete at the end of 2009, he expects they’ll hammer out regulations for long-term pedicab use around downtown Decatur, Oakhurst and Agnes Scott College.

“It’s such a stop-and-stare,” Gerke said of the cabs, with their bright colors, blinking safety lights, hydraulic brakes and thick tires. “If you’re predictable, operate as trained, you’ll get drivers’ respect.”

Other pedicab owners would like to operate tours and short trips around Atlanta’s entertainment districts, but haven’t had such an easy time getting their businesses on the road.

Avid cyclist Matt McMahon, 32, and a friend bought a green pedicab months ago, but have shown it off only at festivals or when driving friends around town. McMahon talked to police permitting officers and city officials, but didn’t find regulations among the taxi cabs, trolleys, horse-and-buggy and bike rules that allowed pedicabs to operate safely.

He envisions a fleet of cabs, which typically cost $4,000 to $7,000, offering short, low-cost trips through Downtown, Midtown and neighborhood festivals. By placing ads for local businesses on the cab, they can keep ride cost down and transport people to the spots that seems just a bit too far to walk. For now, the “Atlanta Green Machine,” as he calls the cab, spends most of its time in a garage.

“We wanted to do something to help the community and support green business,” McMahon said. “I feel like we’re just going in circles now.”

Atlanta City Councilman Ceasar Mitchell said he likes pedicabs’ credentials as environmentally friendly small businesses that can fill the transportation gaps between buses, taxis and sightseeing vehicles, but it’s tough to make a priority when budgets and public safety occupy officials’ time.

He wants to hear more, too, about how to operate the vehicles safely and effectively in Atlanta’s notoriously heavy traffic.

“We’re probably another two or three months from even coming up with a pilot plan. It’s not because of lack of interest,” Mitchell said. “We’re constantly trying to think out of the box, but sometimes you have to be very realistic about the character of our city. There are factors we have to take into consideration that folks in Decatur don’t have to.”

Gerke, McMahon and Atlanta Bicycle Coalition Executive Director Rebecca Serna said cities should have pedicab ordinances in place before the vehicles begin to operate on roads.

Serna has heard about “clueless,” unregulated pedicab drivers operating around Atlantic Station, and worries that an accident or a bad rider experience will ruin the vehicles’ reputations before they have a chance to take off in the city.

Pedicabs travel at slow speeds — 12 mph would be considered fast — and are difficult to tip. But they’re not immune to accidents. In August 2008, a tourist was killed in Portland, Ore., after the unregulated pedicab he was riding in ran a red light while traveling down a steep hill.

Serna wants Atlanta pedicab operators to be trained, insured and traveling along designated routes that stay away from hills or traffic hazards.

“Once people understand what they are,” Serna said, “traffic will adjust.”