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Resident pitches ‘pedicabs’ proposal to city

Thursday, Jan. 4, 2007

Members of the city’s Taxicab Commission took their first look Wednesday at what one resident hopes can be another way of navigating downtown Frederick.

Jonathan Smith introduced the group to the ‘‘pedicab,” a bicycle-powered rickshaw that allows one person to pedal while others ride in an attached cab, at the commission’s meeting.

‘‘I think this would be an excellent mode of transportation to start in Frederick,” said Smith, who owns A Dapper Limousine. ‘‘They are exploding all over the country.”

Smith got the idea for the pedal-powered vehicles after seeing them in Houston three years ago and seeing their potential in his hometown of 30 years.

He envisions the pedicabs as a means for residents and tourists to ride a few blocks rather than walking, paying anywhere from 50 cents to $1 per minute for the ride.

Alderman C. Paul Smith (R), a member of the commission and no relation to Jonathan Smith, voiced his concerns not only about traffic congestion, but also direct competition with taxicabs.

‘‘If [the driver] does not keep pedaling, I see the potential of making traffic worse,” the alderman said. ‘‘...If your venture is successful, it puts pressure to compete with our taxis, which are struggling.”

Jonathan Smith said he saw no traffic difficulties during his time in Houston, and that he could not envision ‘‘major hampering of traffic” due to the presence of pedicabs.

Regarding competition with motorized cabs, Smith said his transportation offering would be to get people from one block to another, a trip they would not usually employ a taxi for.

Alderman Marcia A. Hall (D) said she did not view a conflict with taxis, noting the presence of horse-drawn carriages as yet another option of navigating Frederick’s streets.

Hall did want a better idea of what areas of downtown would be accessible by the pedicabs.

She recommended that Jonathan Smith look at the city’s taxicab regulations, note where his vehicles would comply and what needed to be changed, and where exactly they would operate for a future commission meeting.

Alderman Smith also requested further conversation on the issue, most notably to hear from taxicab operators, who had no comment during the meeting.

‘‘Indirectly, their [the pedicabs’] success, eventually, affects the service they [taxicabs] render,” he said. ‘‘I’m happy for this discussion, however, as we need alternative transportation methods.”

Following the meeting, Jonathan Smith said that he felt the dialogue was ‘‘positive,” and that he would get to work on a more formal presentation to the commission.