View Full Version : pedalcab -vs- pedicab trailer safty info
fredthehare
25-03-2005, 06:15
I need safty info backed by city/state law, showing how unsafe pedicab trailers attached to the seat post or frame of a bicycle are.
I operate both mainstreet and zev-tech pedicabs, and a local jack ass wants to compeate with me using pedicab trailers attached to the back of the seatpost of a huffy bicycle.
These trailers are unsafe and before the state shuts him down they need proof that these trailers are unsafe.
Can anyone help with info?
(Edit) - I moved it from the ReadMe First to the Technic forum. Hope this is ok. Gerald, Moderator.
Sweden rickshaw
29-03-2005, 11:52
Hi! :)
I don't know why you are so mad about the way your competitor drive a rickshaw. He feels ok about it. And if accident happens it's his problem.
I myself let manufactured such a vehicle. (Trailer) And I drive it every day.
I know about the problem with sharp turning. I take it easy... But the feeling to drive easy and safe with such a vehicle is for me the best. I menage to drive steep roads and don't have problem with heavy passangers.
And the repair cost and problems droped to ZERO!
I didn't have any accident. YET!
And the passengers don't feel pity about the driver.
The way I attached the vehicle to a 24 geared MTB is maybe different to others. It has a strong big feather assembled. So I dont even feel that I have a vehicle behinde me. It moves his own way.
Before I started to manufacture the trailer I asked the Swedish authority if there would be any probems. It toked 2 month to answer for them. They have to read the EU AND Swedish law about it.
But they give green light. I aked them if I have to assemble breaks on the rear wheels. The answer was: "People must take some of their own responsibility when they use such a vehicle."
I have read about the suggestion of how to assemble a trailer to a bicycle:
http://www.bikesatwork.com/hauling-cargo-by-bike/bicycle-trailer-guide.html
Some help?
And don't be mad at your competitor! He enjoy the ride just like you. Work togeather instead! If he has a non good bicycle then you can suggest to him to change to a better one. ;)
Have a nice ride. :D
Josef
I would agree from experiance, with the trailer pedicab being the bad side of business regarding pedicabing. They do have stabilety issues & tend to fall over when no one is holding the bike. Then you have the 'jack knife' problem when you need to stop in a hurry. Then the problem of two people at the back & a small link to the front. Then the problem of home made & no insurance. Well...., the list could go on, the one thing is that you might not get the information that you need to shut him down but time may do this for you. The thing is information for you & him, though if he gets a 'propa' trike for business will you be any better at being friends? At some point you will need to get together to defend your industry & you may need each other to survive. (I know that would suck :D )
Hell! Just shoot the M..F... (just kidding:D )
fredthehare
04-04-2005, 23:59
Ok I don't have a personal problem with this guy but I know the only reason he is doing this is to make money. He lives at the city mission and bult the trailer in his friends garage. I told him of the safty issues and he realy wasn't interested. Yesterday I saw him ride up onto the sidewalk downtown and flipper the traler, luckly it was empty. I introduced the first pedicabs to this state and it's still a new concept. so whether it's a manufactered cab or a garage trailer the state will look diferently on the safty issue and possibly ban them from operating on public streets just like they did with the pocket bikes, which are now illeagle in this state to operate on any paved road. I will work with anyone, and even help them get started operating in my city only if they are willing to do it rite. that way we all can make money and coexest in harmoney. I don't want one persons stupidy ruenining the industruy for everyone else who wants to do it rite. this is where I'm comming from.
"DO IT SAFE, OR DON'T DO IT AT ALL!!!!
Your choices are limited to (as far as I can make out).
1. Video & collect proof of what you think maybe/is the danger of such a bike. Then ask the local council to deal with this situation, maybe check that he is registered as self employed & not collecting benefit. - This will make you an enemy & may back fire when the cab boys go after you.
2. Find a friendly store to give him delivery work & offer this as an option for him. - You make a friend & move the competion, or the fish aint biting.
3. Offer him one of your old bikes for sale & let him try it. - You still have competion but maybe he will see sense.
4. Offer him a job with your company, maybe senior rider. - You might lose competion & get another rider (or the nightmare is just started)
5. Write to him with detailes of what could happen if he has an accident (spell it out to him), with maybe a dose of options. - Might be the start of bit of light.
6. Send him information on how to builed a trike or buy a cheap on ie. http://www.organicengines.com/SUV/Pedicab/index.htm. They are cheap to make & work very well round London.- He might just do this one.:)
7. Buy his trailer (maybe through a friend) & us this for adverts. - He might just make another.
8. Take a ride with him to a dark wood & ........... - No, not realy, you will only get a new boy friend in jail :D .
9. Follow him & under cut his prices. - This is not nice & won't make you any friends or money.
10. Sit back & watch till the shi.. hits the fan. - Done by nearly all businesses.
fredthehare
05-04-2005, 06:02
I think if I can find a city or state regulation preventing trailers from operating due to safty facters I can present it to city councle and let them do the rest, this will solve the problem. So I think.
Trixi.com
06-04-2005, 01:02
I never worked with a bike / pedicab trailer for the transportation of clients, but some reviews of trailers would be helpful...
Your competitor could also just download the video "Ban pedicabs" (http://showthread.php?t=175) and doing some "noise" :D
In Spain at least it was until last year forbidden to have trailers with the bike. Now it is allowed, but the transport of passengers is still forbidden by the Traffic Law.
Your question consists of two questions:
- How to avoid my competitor and you got some :cool:answers :D
- Is a traditional pedicab safer than a bike trailer?
If both are safe enough: There is no reason not to let the competitor work with his trailer.
If a pedicab is safer, you may convince the city council to regulate the usage for pedicabs only. But have in mind, that some accidents with pedicabs will give your competitor also good arguments...
If trailers are safer: You should change the fleet.
I agree with you:
"DO IT SAFE, OR DON'T DO IT AT ALL!!!!"
I am also very interested in the answer of this question. Does anybody know important accidents with trailers, reviews or something else which could help to find the answer:
Which vehicle is safer - a traditional pedicab or a bicycle trailer?"
Sweden rickshaw
06-04-2005, 08:47
About bicycle trailers...!
As for all "new" vehicles. The world is trembling and is afraid. Look at the train for 150 years ago. The doctors said: If a mankinde ride such a "thing" faster then 30 km/h he will die! The man is NOT build for to travel in high speed! They hade right!
Millions and millions die every year because of speed.
A rickshaw-pedicab-bicycle trailer is NOT build for speed. Even if some drivers like to drive as "Schumacher". The F1 driver.
The cab drivers AND politicans in London hide their head under their arms.
How many dies every year in England from a car accident? How many dies every year from to drive OR ride a/in a rickshaw?
In the whole world dies moore people per year in car accident the in the two world wars togeather!
Deadly accidents, I'm shure, happens with rickshaws somewhere on our planet. But only if a CAR is involved!!! Right?
Let a person without driving licence drive a car. Will he survive? NO!
Let a person drive a rickshaw-pedicab-bicycle trailer without education. Will he survive? NO!
Will an astronaut survive without any proper education? NO!
You have to educate yourself if you use something new.
A gun, knife, car, aeroplane OR a rickshaw.
I almost run to a wall when I first entered one of my chinese rickshaws!
I didn't have anybody to teach me how to drive. I almoste killed myself.:o
With that lesson in minde, I was carefull when I entered my new ALL PURPOSE RICKSHAW. I almoste fall after a few minutes...:confused: :o
But today I drive it every day without any incident. :D
I educate every new rickshaw driver. 1 of 10 can NEVER learn how to drive it! The brain does not let them to change their minde that thei sit on a 3 wheel vehicle. Thei try to balance like on a bicycle. The result we all know. They sure loose balance and run into a wall!
3 of 10 are so unshure drivers that I don't let them drive a rickshaw.
And 2 of 10 are afraid of the traffic and the "big cars!"!
At last. A good education is vital for to survive as a rickshaw-pedicab or bicycle trailer driver.
NEVER HAVE HURRY WITH A RICKSHAW!!! :mad: :rolleyes:
You don't get paid MUCH moore. You risk the passangers AND your health and life. And you raise the risk of accident by many hundred times.
Why is the speed limit in citys and towns? Answer = ...!
The ONLY way to build rickshaws safety is to let manufacturers, handy people, university proffessores give free hand. Look at the cars developments. It was moore dangerous for 100 years ago.
The rickshaw is in the developing countrys for shure, only 10-15 years old. Give it 10-20 years moore and it will be safer!
Have a nice ride.
Josef :)
Well, maybe its better to start with a pedicab from the start, as its a purpose builed tool & it does not cut the cost corner (you know .... breaks, stabilety & seat belts). The issue of a good tool for your work is known to most, you buy what you can affored but if it does not do the job then its wasted money.
The pedicabs will evolve, just look at the technical site of this forum - the new aluminum trike is just one more step.
Sadly I am still sceptical about the trailers & to me it does not matter much that you spend 2 years learning to ride it if it's not up to the job. Hell, even some trikes are no better then a trailer, as they are too narrow or have lousy breaks or the passengers sit to high & the whole thing will roll when you go round even the mildest of corners. You are not allowed by law to carry people in a towed caravan when you drive, because regardless of speed if the thing roles when it gets a puncture the people inside get hurt.
You will earn good money if you buy wisly or you will spend more money on law suits and repaires, as a few London comanys have found to there dismay.
Which vehicle is safer - a traditional pedicab or a bicycle trailer?"