Yesterday 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.

I’ve heard two reports of pedicabs already roaming the streets of Decatur.

Neil ran into the owner this morning writes in with a couple details.

He two pedicabs and will be at the Music Festivals and all. He also wants to set up tours and such. For questions or a picture, call Michael at 920-371-2227 or go to his website. [not a lot of specific Decatur info on the website yet]

Anyone been on one yet?  Or better yet…have a pic?

…oh wait, that’s “Pedicab.”

What a great creative exercise!  Every two weeks I could come up with a trippy, new pseudo-band name using City Commission meeting topics!  And YOU thought I got this job because I was devilishly handsome.  Ha!

So what exactly is on the agenda for this whacked-out Commission meeting?

Vinyl:  The City Commission will vote on authorizing $38,000 for HVAC improvements and $24,000 for replacing (or just covering over?) the lovely vinyl wall-coverings at the Decatur Conference Center.   This is in preparation of a full-fledged Holiday Inn makeover.

Siren:  The city has received a $108,000 grant from FEMA to install for city-run tornado sirens around the city.  If accepted, that will make 5 total within the city limits, including the existing Agnes Scott siren.  It requires only a 15% match by the city.

Skatepark:  Active Living Director Dan Magee is looking to get the go-ahead to purchase 6 new Spohn Ranch skate park pieces for McCoy’s Skate Park.  Magee has even gotten a thumbs up (or whatever the skateboarder equivalent is) from park users.  The $25,000 cost was already approved in the last fiscal year.

Pedicab:  Probably the most interesting agenda item.  A Wisconsin couple who recently moved here is looking for permission to run a “pedicab”  service in the city similar to the one they operated in Green Bay.  (Here’s what one MIGHT look like.)  Rides would start at $5 and would be free during festivals if they could obtain sponsorships.  There’s also talk about a $10 pedicab tour of Decatur.  The city recommends a six-month trial run and urges haste so the pedicabs are up in running prior to the start of festival season.

And if that weren’t enough!

Other sensational agenda items: David Junger wants 416 Oakland to clean up its act, East Decatur Station wants on-street parking on Sams Street, Amanda Thompson wants to apply for $500,000 energy efficiency grant, and Peggy Merriss wants approval to submit an application for a $360,000 grant that would be used to combat childhood obesity.