July
1996
Getting
Around Downtown: Pedicabs Take to the Streets
By Philip Goff
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In a city with myriad mechanized transportation choices — subways, express and local buses, ferries, and taxicabs —
chalk up another option for getting from point A to B, or to explore
New York’s many wonderful neighborhoods. Long a staple of transportation
throughout Asia, bicycle rickshaws, or "pedicabs," have taken
to the streets of lower Manhattan and are providing an affordable and
pollution-free option for transportation and touring.
Two new companies, Pedicabs of New York (PONY), and the Manhattan Rickshaw
Company (MRC) have been operating throughout Spring in the Village,
Chelsea, SoHo, and Tribeca. The combined working fleet of 10 cabs are
also available for special trips to Midtown or Central Park, and have
appeared at parades, weddings, and special events. At 50 cents per
minute
($30/hour), they provide an ideal way for two or three people to get
to and from the East and West Village, or to promenade along the Hudson
River. Essentially non-competitive, both companies are located at "The
Hub" on East 3rd St., a new manufacturing and display center for
zero-emission vehicles such as pedicabs, cargo bikes, electric mini-cars,
and recycled bicycles.
New York is one more in a growing number of U.S. cities that have pedicab
services. The largest is in San Francisco, and smaller operations are
up and running in many other cities, including Seattle, Denver, Baltimore,
Washington D.C., Charleston SC, San Diego, Savannah GA, Key West, and
Toronto. New companies hope to begin operations this year in Boston,
Cleveland, and Atlanta.
In most other cities that lack the pedestrian traffic and are less culturally
vibrant than New York, the rickshaws operate only in specific areas.
In San Francisco, for instance, they operate solely along the waterfront,
likewise in San Diego and Key West. In Denver and Baltimore, service
mainly revolves around the new urban baseball stadiums on game nights;
in Boston it will be centered around Faneuil Hall and the Commons; Atlanta
will rely heavily on the Olympic facilities.
But in Manhattan, "it is potentially everywhere," says George
Bliss, founder of PONY. Although he discourages drivers from going
above
23rd Street, he expects the pedicabs to be in demand in many neighborhoods
and tourist areas in Manhattan and Brooklyn in the near future.
Downtown Base
The rickshaws have definitely begun to establish a base downtown, especially
in Greenwich Village, where many people are now accustomed to the sight
of the pastel-colored three wheelers. Keeping all of the cabs centrally
located helps create a more solid customer base and breeds familiarity
and acceptance for the nascent transport mode. "To expand into
other areas of the city at this point might be detrimental to the business,"
says Peter Meitzler, President of MRC. When posed with the question
of providing a "cruelty-free," romantic ride in Central Park,
both Bliss and Meitzler looked at each other and muttered, "It’s
awfully hilly up there." Still, pedicabs have given rides in Central
Park. Some were there during May’s AIDS Walk, and most drivers
will take customers to the Park if requested.
For many reasons, the Village definitely seems to be the pedicabs’
most natural location. "It is completely flat for one, and is full
of tourists and late-night revelers, the core group of pedicab customers,"
says driver Steve Klein. The maze-like layout of streets and lack of
transportation at the fringes create a demand for rides from east to
west or vice versa. The rickshaws complement the existing subway system
by providing intermodal access to the far West or East Village from
the 9 and 6 Trains respectively. Maybe most importantly is the ethos
of the Village. People who live or visit it tend to be an eclectic lot,
and if they are not, they often enjoy seeing something somewhat alien
or funky. With bright colors, frequently gregarious drivers and customers,
and their "exotic" appearance, the rickshaws are right at
home. "The drivers, rather than being cramped into a polluting
metal box, put themselves on display," says Bliss. "They
are like buskers [European street performers] giving a free, 10-second
show
as they go by. Greenwich Village gives them the perfect context to
interact in."
What many rickshaw drivers have found interesting is the unequivocally
positive reaction from taxi drivers. "They are just as curious
as anyone else," explains Klein. "Many come from countries
where rickshaws are a common sight, so, in a way, we remind them of
home." In consequence, confrontations with taxis, and all cars
for that matter, are non-existent. "Taxi drivers don’t seem
threatened with any ideas of competition," says Meitzler. "There
is none. We are dealing with a very different type of customer that
taxis don’t want — customers looking for short and whimsical
rides to out-of-the-way places. We serve where taxis aren’t allowed
to go: pedestrian malls, parks, bikepaths, along the waterfront, etc."
Whether they will make their mark on the entire city is unknown, but
the PONY and MRC tricycles have definitely added to the vibrancy and
convenience of downtown Manhattan. In the early 20th Century, there
was a certain allure and romance associated with travel in this country.
With the commonplace nature of air travel, the slow speed of boats,
and the traffic delays and environmental problems of auto travel, we
have lost this mood in the modern age. Hopping into a three-wheeled,
human-powered carriage in many American cities may revive this spirit
on a small scale. "Pedicabs combine romance, scenery, and social
interaction. In a car, there is no physical sensation, very little scenery,
and zero social interaction," says George Bliss. "We have
lost the fun of transportation. We have lost our innocence."
Philip Goff is an animal and eco-activist, and occasional
pedicab driver.
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