July 10, 2006
Bicycle Cabs Come to D.C.
On our way to a Nats game at RFK on Saturday, we spied a yellow-shirted cyclist heading down East Capitol Street towards the stadium. But beyond being a normal bike rider heading to a game on a pleasant night, he was on his first assignment as a driver for D.C. Pedicab, a new bicycle cab service that recently kicked off in the District. Their website states:
Taking a cue from similar human-powered transportation that has been thriving overseas for well over a century, DC Pedicab is committed to changing the way that people think about transportation in our nation’s capital. DC Pedicabs are not only environmentally-friendly, but are also much faster and relaxing than walking, definitely more exciting than taking a traditional taxi cab, bus, or Metrorail service, and are capable of maneuvering through heavily congested city traffic with ease.According to the driver -- ummm, pedaler is more accurate -- we spoke to, rides cost $5 for 10 minutes, and one of the main routes they will be serving will be late night in Adams Morgan and Dupont Circle. This is good planning on their part -- there's probably no end to the number of late night partygoers that will want to jump in one of these for their ride home.
We always thought rickshaws would be a good idea, but this is one better. And beyond just riding, this could become an interesting part-time job -- after all, they are hiring.
|
Advertisement: DCist Continues Below!
Post a comment (Comment Policy)
goodness, that's a hilly route for a pedicab...although crossing that automobile-cab zone boundary between dupont and A-M with no penalty will make them very popular.
What a great idea. Though you're right, that's quite a hill from DuPont to A-M. but a quick, easy coast all the way down 18th for the Jumbo-slice stuffed pub crawl
I hope they're offering hazard pay for the AM routes on the weekends - a bunch of drunk people up a hill? Eesh.
They have these in Denver. A friend of mine drove (pedalled, whatever) one for a while in college.
I don't often drive, but I got stuck behind one of these guys the other night and it sucked. I'm all about bikes ( I ride every day of the week), but I think these guys are bringing trafic to a halt on already over crowded roads, especially up-hill.
I wish them luck. Maybe they can offer a job to the guys from le Tour who got suspended for doping, I hear they are great on the hills.
What, are we in Calcutta? Hopefully these guys will be wearing more than those guys, but unfortunately, a half hour trip costs more than 10 rupees
Isn't this like the 3rd attempt at a company like this in the last 10 years?
Hopefully, the company and its employees will have more concern over the safety of its riders than the photo seems to indicate -- that baseball caps ain't gonna do the trick if that guy gets into an accident! Even the pros are now required to wear helmets for races, maybe these guys should too!
The repetetive flexing of gluteus maximus under thin lycra is far more pleasing to have before you than the hot fuming hood over a gasoline engine.
Seems like a good idea. We have to resort to this because DC cabs suck so bad. And that's because we have a city government that doesn't view cabs as an integral part of the transportation system - they view them as an employment opportunity for recent immigrants and others with low language and job skills.
I'd think close-in Capitol Hill would be a huge market for these guys. No big hills, lots of high income residents, plus lots of interny-types out getting liquored up.