Austin’s pedicab industry may have become a victim of its own success. Now, the City of Austin is looking into what, if any, changes to make to pedicab regulations.
In 2007, there were approximately 87 pedicabs in Austin. There are now about 189 on Austin streets.
“Because we're so light and nimble and able to move quickly through cars and traffic and whatnot, we can adapt to what's going on downtown,” said Ken Cameron, the co-owner of Movemint Pedicabs in East Austin.
The city's Transportation Department will study pedicab industries in other cities to see if any regulations there can apply to Austin. Steve Grassfield of the city's Parking Enterprise Department says the pedicab study will look at such things as, " how they operate. Do they charge per block? Do they do tips? What kind of ground transportation enforcement do they have?”
Discussions of updating the city's nearly 20-year old regulations which encompass pedicabs began back in February from the city’s taxi cab industry.
“They're serving a lot of people here in Austin. They're doing a great job, and to me personally, I have no problem with pedicabs working with us. We can work together to make the city better," said Abdul Bounhiza, an Austin cab driver.
The Transportation Department does not have any specific recommendations regarding pedicabs at this time. The department hopes to have a final report due in about six months.
