Pedi-Cabs in DC

Well, you're going to hate me for this unhelpful reply, but I'm very curious as to why this is an issue for you. Is it that you'll avoid hailing one if you know it's illegal?

If it makes you feel any better, at least I topped your question again...

I am asking because I'd like to be able to use the pedi-cabs to get around and I am interested to know if they are or are not allowed in that area.

I saw one not that long ago driving home along Constitution Ave near the Vietname Memorial. I hate hate hate them and everyone in them, I always feel like running them over. The people in them are lazy beyond belief that they will hire some young guy who is pedalling and hauling along three people (2 plus himeself) rather than walk. I have never seen anyone in them who didn't look young enough and able enough to walk themself. The reason I hate them is that they clog up traffic by taking up a lane and they can't go very fast. I really wish they would be outlawed, if they are not.

How do you really feel, Christina?

Well. I see.

Anyway...

I think pedi-cabs are terrific and I wish more cities had them. We have them in my city and we have had them for years. I am familiar with the traffic issues, but I think that the benefits outweigh the problems with traffic. They are environmentally-friendly and take up less space than taxicabs. In general, I think that we should encourage as much non-combustion engine powered transportation as possible in our cities - outside our cities as well, however this type of transportation is esspecially well-suited to high density areas where pollution is particularly concentrated. And at least in my city, pedi-cabs are a lot easier to find than a taxi, and less expensive.

As for the people who use them - what does it matter if someone can walk but chooses to ride instead? Why the harsh judgement? Pedi-cab drivers ARE paid afterall and they have chosen to be pedi-cab drivers - they aren't slaves or convict labor afterall. If any drivers object to hauling people around, then they should choose another line of work. Does the same opinion of the riders' laziness transfer to people who take taxicabs, buses, or trams when they could walk? Laziness beyond belief - indeed. Besides, how can a person judge the ability of the riders after such a short observance? Many of the riders may have limited abilities and not want to waste their energy or efforts walking a few blocks, but rather save it for other activities such as wandering through museums.

Moon

Great classy reply!

If people say there are pedi-cabs in DC I'll believe it but to be honest I personally have never seen one. I don't know what that means... In my experience most of the tourists walk or take the tour buses, with the occasional cab here and there.

I've seen pedicabs in summer around the baseball stadium. Folks seem to be using them for a lift to distant (well, 5 blocks or so) parking locations after a game.

And ditto re Nov_moon's comment "Many of the riders may have limited abilities and not want to waste their energy or efforts walking a few blocks, but rather save it for other activities such as wandering through museums." So true.

We saw pedicabs along the Mall area last fall, not a lot, but a few. Christina, I have no idea what you're talking about. The pedicab drivers are not slaves, they are paid to haul people. Do you think people who take taxis are lazy? Are you lazy because you drive a car?

Here's an article from last June about DC pedicabs:
http://www.expressnightout.com/content/2009/06/peddling_pedals_for_profit_despite_the_recession_pedicab_companies_thrive.php

Thanks for the link to the article DancingBear.

It is good to know that the pedi-cabs are around.

We use pedi-cabs a lot at home when we are out with my mom - she's got an arthritic knee, so it makes it convinient on those days when her knee isn't feeling good. And my mom is part of an extended family trip to DC this summer. I know we will be walking around in museums, checking out monuments, and so forth. It is nice to know that pedi-cabs are available.

We have a few here in NYC and they are a major PIA. I have no with people walking or riding - what I object to is that they clog up already busy traffic since they go so slowly (understandably). On the hills (many people don;t realize parts of Manhattan are quite hilly), they come to an almost complete stop. IMHO they should be limited to Central Park or something where they won;t make traffic worse.

Just posted a question for the best way for my 80+ parents to get around DC and noticed this topic. A pedicab would be PERFECT for them ~ as long as Christina doesn't run them over!! Thanks for asking the question, November Moon.

I certainly see the point about pedicabs slowing down already busy traffic; a wider bike lane for them would be ideal, no?

Most streets here don;t have bike lanes - and a wide one wold lose a whle lane of traffic. No I think they should have to be like the horse carriages and stay in the park - where slow is good.

LOL Arabella - watch out for Christina and they will be fine

Without a dedicated lane, the presence of these things causing traffic to slow significantly is generating a lot more pollution than they're saving. You'd need a whole lot of them to change that equation.

Pedicabs are not a reasonable way for people to get around DC as they don't go hardly anywhere throughout the city, thank goodness. They are mainly around the mall. They do contribute terribly to traffic congestion and pollution, and are dangerous. This is the reason why a lot of locals dislike tourists -- in Washington and other cities. So many of them don't care about what impact they have on the city they are visiting, and don't do reasonable things. It's like the tourists who bring cars into the cities and illegally park, drive dangerously and also clog up traffic, when they should be taking public transporation in a large city.

I really hadn't noticed that it's the tourists illegally parking and driving dangerously in DC, and it seems that many of us locals are bypassing public transit and clogging up traffic all by ourselves.