AUSTIN — The City of Austin is testing out a program that is giving pedicab drivers downtown a boost.
About 60 drivers have permits to add an electric motor to their carts. Pedicab drivers say they have benefited from the motors.
"I've been a pedicab driver for about five years now,” said Alexander Strenger. “I got my motorized cab back in March."
Strenger said the electric motor on his cab helps him make about 15 percent more rides a night.
"It helps a lot,” he said.
There are about 500 permitted pedicabs total, those include pedicabs with motors and those without.
"This is part of a larger city-wide electrification strategy,” said Marissa Monroy, communications manager for Austin’s transportation department. “Where we want to offer safe and clean transportation options to the people in Austin."
If you ride on a motorized pedicab, it will not cost you extra.
Strenger said he charges an average of $10 per person. Since this summer, he has had to navigate through scooters, which are inexpensive.
"It hasn't really had so much of an effect on my ability to earn a living,” he said. “What I have noticed with the scooters is that the way in which they are utilized by people in the city presents a safety hazard."
There are a little over 11,500 scooters permitted in Austin. Strenger said he sees them riding the wrong way or they block sidewalks.
"A lot of the people who ride these scooters late at night downtown in Austin are drunk,” said Strenger.
He wants scooters to shut down at 10 p.m. nightly. However, Strenger would like to see the City continue the motorized pedicab program.
The City says it will continue that program until about March of 2019. Then, it will decide whether to keep it going.
The City's transportation program is asking for feedback from people who ride in the motorized pedicabs by taking this survey.