Another “Only in Decatur”: Pedicabs
Decatur Metro | June 28, 2009 | 5:50 pmYesterday the AJC profiled Decatur’s Easy Living pedicab owner and operator, Mike Gerke, in a larger article about how Decatur is the only place in the metro-region where one can flag down a leg-powered vehicle on your way home from dinner.
In Atlanta, bike taxis seem to run into some pretty entrenched city past-times like poor budgeting and driving.
Atlanta City Councilman Ceasar Mitchell said he likes pedicabs’ credentials as environmentally friendly small businesses that can fill the transportation gaps between buses, taxis and sightseeing vehicles, but it’s tough to make a priority when budgets and public safety occupy officials’ time.
He wants to hear more, too, about how to operate the vehicles safely and effectively in Atlanta’s notoriously heavy traffic.
Always, always, always keep your head up.
You must mean “heads up” on lousy AJC reporting.
The 2008 accident was in SEATTLE not Portland (missed it by 144 miles) and resulted from inadequate brake design for those steep grades, operator fault was implied but never proven.
I always assume lousy AJC reporting.
I meant to address the, “He wants to hear more, too, about how to operate the vehicles safely and effectively in Atlanta’s notoriously heavy traffic,” request.
I like his “how is the bike going to deal with the cars?” mindset, instead of the other way around.
DM, are you attacking The Car? How dare you, that is an American institution, the symbol and embodiment of American individualism–and if asked, most Americans will say that Henry Ford invented the car. Never mind that it was a couple of French guys that developed the internal combustion engine.
Just got back from Denver and on a Saturday night had over 40 pedicabs opperating. The key is that they have one street that is closed to traffic, the scene was so vibrant and cool. I doubt it will ever happen in Atlanta but Decatur needs to consider experimenting closing Ponce from Commerce to Commerce on weekends.
Why not?
There’s so much foot traffic there Saturday nights/ Sunday mornings. It’s practically closed to cars already.
Not a bad idea, Trees. It’s easy to go around that block, so auto traffic wouldn’t be adversely affected. And it would be much safer for peds.
Just like in downtown Austin, they block off 6th street at night on the weekends.
OMG … you mean I would have to get off my fat a** and park my SUV a block away and walk to the Square instead of spending an hour circling around the shoehorn trying to find one of the dozen spots in front of Brick Store? Well, if that happens, I will just stop going.
(This is just a joke folks. I actually like the idea and would even go for making the area around the square a “car free zone” all the time, starting with getting rid of the parking in front of the Brick Store, Sweet Melissa’s, etc, and adding some much needed green space to the area.)
Great idea. That space could be converted to shared al fresco dining like the tent covered pleins in Amsterdam. The restauranteurs would love it.
I don’t know anything about the tent covered pleins but it sounds like Lincoln Road in Miami Beach. Very nice.
They put up the tents in inclement weather but here’s a picture of Leidseplein.
I can totally see doing this in the parking loops near the old courthouse.
http://www.amsterdammertje.com/images/leidseplein_amsterdam.jpg
Hey, I know Al Fresco, too! Good friend of mine.
Wow!! What a great idea! Who will pitch this to the Mayor?
This is a great idea and would make downtown even more appealing, and car free. I think it could help our restaurants, pubs and merchants immensely. Of course their involvement in this decision is required. I would like to see the candidates for City Commission take this on.
And on a similar note, what ever happened with the idea of a traffic calming circle (if that is the correct word) at West Ponce traffic light near the post office, mentioned previously on this web site? I like that too.
A traffic circle there is a great idea.
That’s got to be the longest wait for a light in the county. Plus, it would slow drivers down entering the square area from a sweeping downhill curve.
I’d be awfully surprised if the merchants came out in favor of it. Traffic is the lifeblood of retail and, like it or not, Decatur does not have sufficient pedestrian densities to cut out half the market.
90% of the pedestrian only streets (called “pedestrian malls” in DOT lingo) built since they were the rage in the 60s have failed and been returned to the traffic network. The only place they seem to thrive is areas that already attract a critical mass of people for other reasons (Miami and Boulder are two I’m familiar with, or what they’re currently doing in Times Square).
Look at the south side of the square after Marta replaced Sycamore. That strip was at death’s door for over a decade before it started to catch a second wind. But even today, it underperforms compared with Ponce or where the Brick is.
Any merchants want to chime in? Under what circumstances would something like this work for your business?
Daggnabbit Scott! Though it has been a while since we posted essentially the same response at the same time.
It’s an interesting idea, but I’m not sure you’d get all Decatur businesses behind it since you’d be taking away much of the most visible parking in the city. Regardless of whether it’s real or perceived, many business owners in the city are quite concerned about the parking issue. We saw it regarding the 315 debate.
I also love the traffic circle at W. Ponce idea. Too bad it was brought up sooner and we could have petitioned to have it added to the transportation plan.
DM, I had to highlight your text to read it over that background.
The idea of blocking Ponce to cars permanently is pretty ambitious. Turning Ponce into a Carnaby Street, London sounds cool but I can see how business owners would be chilly to that idea.
Maybe a Cyclovia Weekend in the Fall for a test run to see how it goes would be more palatable. Get local merchants involved with kiosks to bring in ped/bike customers. I’ve not participated in one, but I hear business owners like the opportunity to literally setup kiosks in the street and meet new customers.
The idea of common outdoor dining in the parking area in front of the Brick might fly if it was after six on a weekend on select evenings. What does that hold maybe 30 cars? They don’t move all night either.
It sounds like we have at least three ideas going on this theme.
1. Block Ponce to cars around the Square to turn it into a non-motorized zone.
2. Reserve the parking loop on the side of the Courthouse for a temporary common dining courtyard.
3. Hold a Cyclovia type festival to introduce the concept of a car-free streetscape around the square area. (Like the beach party)
Highlight? It just looks slightly darker gray on my screen.
Maybe an issue with IE 8 or my work laptop.
I was just loving the idea of being more like Amsterdam!
Then I suggest Starbucks and Java Monkey sell weed! It might not get rid of the cars, but you’d be less likely to care…
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/12/nyregion/12pedicab.html?_r=1&scp=3&sq=pedicab&st=cse
Pedicab issues in NYC.
A good lesson on how NOT to do it.
Why would anyone get a pedicab license if you could carry passengers for hire without one? And therefore avoid any pedicab regulations? No wonder the NYPD refused to enforce the new laws.