Pedicabs coming to KC?
Published January 5th, 2008 in General
Today the Star reports that bicycle-powered pedicabs could be introduced to Kansas City by this summer. Last year some local entrepreneurs approached the city about starting a pedicab business, only to find out that it is illegal in KCMO. Hopefully the City Council will soon be voting soon to change that. Even City Councilmember Ed Ford, who is not usually a fan bicycles on the streets, seems to be supportive of pedicabs.
While pedicabs might sound unusual or exotic to some, you don’t have to travel to a third world country to see these modern rickshaws. There already on the streets of Missouri’s second and third-largest cities. In St. Louis they are used to ferry people from parking garages to the downtown baseball and football stadiums. Even places like Springfield, pedicabs move people to and from their downtown baseball stadium and their thriving downtown entertainment district. Pedicabs also operate in cities as varied as Chicago, Salt Lake City, Oklahoma City, Detroit, and even tiny Key West, Florida.
- KC Star: Bike-powered pedicabs may soon troll downtown
- St. Louis 3wheel Taxi
- Bricktown Pedicabs (Oklahoma City)
- Pedicab fleets in other US cities
Posted on Fri, Jan. 04, 2008
Bike-powered pedicabs may soon troll downtown
By RICK ALM The Kansas City StarIs Kansas City ready for rickshaws?
City official Gary Majors said Friday that public transit options here may soon include bicycle-powered pedicabs.
Majors, director of the Regulated Industries Division, said his City Hall department is working on an ordinance to legalize the human-powered carts — now outlawed — in time for warm weather and the formal grand opening of the downtown Kansas City Power & Light District.
He said the entertainment district’s restaurants, pubs and Sprint Center arena would create demand for short-hop service between downtown hotels, parking lots and the Bartle Hall convention center.
“Most of the trips will be short,” he said. “One of the complaints we hear about is parking then having to walk. For a few bucks you can have a ride,” he said.
No rates are set yet for the pedicabs.
Majors said the proposal evolved after a handful of would-be pedicab operators approached the city for permission to operate.
The ordinance he hopes to put before the City Council in coming months also would authorize pedicabs in other popular visitor districts like the River Market, Westport, Zona Rosa and the Country Club Plaza.
Officials with the Cordish Co., developer of the Power & Light District, have no problem with the concept but are waiting to hear details.
“We have no official position yet,” said spokeswoman Jennifer Brandt. “We would be in favor of any mode of transportation that brings people to the Power & Light District.”
Councilman Ed Ford likes the idea.
“It’s an intriguing idea that adds to the urban fabric,” he said. “I guess it’s kind of a modern rickshaw. It’s kind of a neat thing.”
Don’t expect to see a fleet of Yellow pedicabs plying city streets.
“That’s not anything we’re going to be getting into,” said local transit mogul Bill George Jr., general manager of Kansas City Transportation Group, a subsidiary of Paris-based Veolia Environment, which now owns Yellow Cab, the airport SuperShuttle fleet and other public conveyances.
Don’t worry that your pedicab driver might poop out and quit pedaling halfway to your destination. Majors said the ordinance would allow small booster motors on the vehicles.
George said he would not make a fuss over small motors that helped drivers climb steep inclines. But he promised to fight any vehicles capable of longer and faster hauls that could compete with taxicabs.
“Have you seen the ones in India?” he asked. “They’re like motorcycles.”
To reach Rick Alm, call 816-234-4785 or send e-mail to ralm@kcstar.com.
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“pedicab driver might poop out” — yeah, but the horses that pull the carriages on the Plaza just poop…
Greeting my Green friends, There’s a green festival that we’d like to invite you and your Pedicabs to. There’s been some talk about pedicabs in Lawrence, but have not seen any so far. Please consider coming to the festival. it was lots of fun last year, and will be even bigger this year. Thanks so much for your consideration! Alison Roepe
Greeting my Green friends,
It’s time for the Little Green Festival again. This years date is August 2nd, and the location is South Park between 11th & 12th on Massachusetts (the Gazebo side), Lawrence, KS, 10am-6pm.
The theme for this years’ festival is “DO ONE GREEN THING.”
We are extending an invitation to individuals, organizations and businesses that have an aspect of their life or business that is environmentally considerate to come and participate in the Green Festival. There are many ways to participate….vendor, speaker, lead a workshop, volunteer, demonstrate a product, provide services (food, music) to name a few. As in last year’s festival, the ideas that are shared are so important, and can make a difference in how we begin to green our lives.
At last years festival there were so many fine individuals that are making real progress in getting off the grid, reducing their carbon footprint, making simple changes in their lives that are a beginning, taking steps in the right direction to living in a more sustainable way. This year, we are casting the net in a much wider arc. Already, there are quite a few businesses that are bringing their products (for sale or demonstration) and a number of people have signed up to give a talk, teach a mini-workshop or demonstrate some aspect of being green.
Do you have a passion for the future of this sweet earth that we all draw our lives from? We would love to know what you are doing, and have your participation in the Little Green Festival this year.
Please take a look at the website: littlegreenfestival.com
You can register online. If you are selling something the day of the festival, there is a $25.00 fee. If you are with a company or organization that has the means, the Little Green Festival would so appreciate the support of a larger donation to help defray the many expenses. If you are not selling anything, there is no fee. You must provide your own table/set-up and chair if you are vending.
We would love to have you at our Green Festival this year. This is an opportunity to bring your goods and services to a festival that is targeted to people interested in a greener, more sustainable way of living. It was a really nice mix to have artists and sustainability together last year, so we are continuing the tradition! We will have food and music all day long, (actually, the music will start at 9am, and go until midnight and if you’ve been to Lawrence, you know that South Park has a stunning collection of trees and meandering walkways, and is a beautiful location for a festival.
I hope to hear from you. If you can’t participate, but will be in town that day, please come by and enjoy the festival with us!
Thank you,
Alison Roepe
Founder, Little Green Festival
ALL REGISTRATIONS MUST BE IN BY JULY 10
Greeting my Green friends, There’s a green festival that we’d like to invite you and your Pedicabs to. There’s been some talk about pedicabs in Lawrence, but have not seen any so far. Please consider coming to the festival. it was lots of fun last year, and will be even bigger this year. Thanks so much for your consideration! Alison Roepe
It’s time for the Little Green Festival again. This years date is August 2nd, and the location is South Park between 11th & 12th on Massachusetts (the Gazebo side), Lawrence, KS, 10am-6pm.
The theme for this years’ festival is “DO ONE GREEN THING.”
We are extending an invitation to individuals, organizations and businesses that have an aspect of their life or business that is environmentally considerate to come and participate in the Green Festival. There are many ways to participate….vendor, speaker, lead a workshop, volunteer, demonstrate a product, provide services (food, music) to name a few. As in last year’s festival, the ideas that are shared are so important, and can make a difference in how we begin to green our lives.
At last years festival there were so many fine individuals that are making real progress in getting off the grid, reducing their carbon footprint, making simple changes in their lives that are a beginning, taking steps in the right direction to living in a more sustainable way. This year, we are casting the net in a much wider arc. Already, there are quite a few businesses that are bringing their products (for sale or demonstration) and a number of people have signed up to give a talk, teach a mini-workshop or demonstrate some aspect of being green.
Do you have a passion for the future of this sweet earth that we all draw our lives from? We would love to know what you are doing, and have your participation in the Little Green Festival this year.
Please take a look at the website: littlegreenfestival.com
You can register online. If you are selling something the day of the festival, there is a $25.00 fee. If you are with a company or organization that has the means, the Little Green Festival would so appreciate the support of a larger donation to help defray the many expenses. If you are not selling anything, there is no fee. You must provide your own table/set-up and chair if you are vending.
We would love to have you at our Green Festival this year. This is an opportunity to bring your goods and services to a festival that is targeted to people interested in a greener, more sustainable way of living. It was a really nice mix to have artists and sustainability together last year, so we are continuing the tradition! We will have food and music all day long, (actually, the music will start at 9am, and go until midnight and if you’ve been to Lawrence, you know that South Park has a stunning collection of trees and meandering walkways, and is a beautiful location for a festival.
I hope to hear from you. If you can’t participate, but will be in town that day, please come by and enjoy the festival with us!
Thank you,
Alison Roepe
Founder, Little Green Festival
ALL REGISTRATIONS MUST BE IN BY JULY 10