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 Star

Is 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.