Trixi.com
29-05-2005, 15:03
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Fort Worth,TX,USA:
Pedicab drivers offer easy downtown riding
Sun, May. 29, 2005
http://www.pedicabforum.com/fotos/varios/forth.jpg
Razzoo's restaurant employees
Alice Carizales, left, and Anna
Moreno take a spin with Stuart Thompson.
http://www.pedicabforum.com/fotos/varios/forth2.jpg
Emilio Hernandez, owner of the Hot Wheels pedicab service, offers rides in Sundance Square.
Pedicab drivers offer easy downtown riding
FORT WORTH - Stuart Thompson and Emilio Hernandez are putting a whole new spin on hailing cabs in downtown Fort Worth.
Thompson and Hernandez, both of Arlington, have launched competing businesses operating pedicabs -- three-wheeled, human-powered vehicles -- in the popular downtown area.
They are apparently the first to officially operate pedicabs in Fort Worth, city officials said.
Thompson, 33, began his Yo Taxi livery this month, operating from 7 p.m. to midnight four days a week, Thursday through Sunday.
Hernandez, 47, began operating his Hot Wheels service about the same time and will operate the same four days, from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. on Thursdays and Fridays and from noon until late at night on Saturdays and Sundays.
Hernandez said people see the cabs on the street and don't seem to know what to think.
"We've been received pretty good," Hernandez said. "We're getting a lot of stares."
Thompson says the work -- pedaling up to 400 pounds in paying customers -- is not as physically demanding as it might seem.
"It's not terribly bad," he said. "There are 21 speeds on the bike, and all those gears really help you out in moving a lot of weight. The surface in the downtown area is fairly flat, so this does make operating a pedicab fairly easy."
For now, Thompson is Yo Taxi's only employee, but he hopes to hire eight more people to pedal the cabs around Sundance Square and Bass Hall and along Houston Street.
Eventually, Thompson's company could operate up to 10 pedicabs downtown, according to a recent permit approved by the City Council.
Hernandez is operating two, the maximum for which he has a permit; but he, too, hopes to expand. Much of his money will come from advertising on the side of the pedicabs, he said.
The pedicabs must obtain permits to operate legally on city streets and must meet safety requirements that include having headlights, taillights and a helmet for the driver, said Municipal Court Director Elsa Paniagua.
The municipal court enforces the city's ground transportation ordinance, which regulates pedicabs, carriages and taxis.
Pedicab drivers must meet the same requirements as taxi drivers in that they must be 19, carry a valid driver's license and have no more than three moving violations on their automobile driving records, Paniagua said.
Thompson and Hernandez said there isn't a standard charge for the service -- customers are asked to pay whatever they think would be an appropriate tip.
The pedicabs can be hailed along the city streets or found at the cab and carriage stand by the Renaissance Worthington Hotel, the men said.
Thompson recently moved to Arlington from Denver, but he said he worked in the pedicab business in Phoenix. Hernandez is retired from a civilian job at Naval Air Station Fort Worth.
Other cities, including Phoenix and Austin, have pedicab services.
Gary Geske, who operates a Phoenix pedicab business and also manufactures the cabs, said the pedicab business has grown to about 100 companies across the country.
Low startup costs -- with each cab going for about $2,000 -- have helped fuel the growth, he said.
"I think it's the independence," he said. "It's a pretty easy business to start, and a lot of cities don't have regulations about them. For a $2,000 investment, you can have your own business."
http://www.pedicabforum.com/fotos/varios/startelegram.gif (http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/)
Fort Worth,TX,USA:
Pedicab drivers offer easy downtown riding
Sun, May. 29, 2005
http://www.pedicabforum.com/fotos/varios/forth.jpg
Razzoo's restaurant employees
Alice Carizales, left, and Anna
Moreno take a spin with Stuart Thompson.
http://www.pedicabforum.com/fotos/varios/forth2.jpg
Emilio Hernandez, owner of the Hot Wheels pedicab service, offers rides in Sundance Square.
Pedicab drivers offer easy downtown riding
FORT WORTH - Stuart Thompson and Emilio Hernandez are putting a whole new spin on hailing cabs in downtown Fort Worth.
Thompson and Hernandez, both of Arlington, have launched competing businesses operating pedicabs -- three-wheeled, human-powered vehicles -- in the popular downtown area.
They are apparently the first to officially operate pedicabs in Fort Worth, city officials said.
Thompson, 33, began his Yo Taxi livery this month, operating from 7 p.m. to midnight four days a week, Thursday through Sunday.
Hernandez, 47, began operating his Hot Wheels service about the same time and will operate the same four days, from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. on Thursdays and Fridays and from noon until late at night on Saturdays and Sundays.
Hernandez said people see the cabs on the street and don't seem to know what to think.
"We've been received pretty good," Hernandez said. "We're getting a lot of stares."
Thompson says the work -- pedaling up to 400 pounds in paying customers -- is not as physically demanding as it might seem.
"It's not terribly bad," he said. "There are 21 speeds on the bike, and all those gears really help you out in moving a lot of weight. The surface in the downtown area is fairly flat, so this does make operating a pedicab fairly easy."
For now, Thompson is Yo Taxi's only employee, but he hopes to hire eight more people to pedal the cabs around Sundance Square and Bass Hall and along Houston Street.
Eventually, Thompson's company could operate up to 10 pedicabs downtown, according to a recent permit approved by the City Council.
Hernandez is operating two, the maximum for which he has a permit; but he, too, hopes to expand. Much of his money will come from advertising on the side of the pedicabs, he said.
The pedicabs must obtain permits to operate legally on city streets and must meet safety requirements that include having headlights, taillights and a helmet for the driver, said Municipal Court Director Elsa Paniagua.
The municipal court enforces the city's ground transportation ordinance, which regulates pedicabs, carriages and taxis.
Pedicab drivers must meet the same requirements as taxi drivers in that they must be 19, carry a valid driver's license and have no more than three moving violations on their automobile driving records, Paniagua said.
Thompson and Hernandez said there isn't a standard charge for the service -- customers are asked to pay whatever they think would be an appropriate tip.
The pedicabs can be hailed along the city streets or found at the cab and carriage stand by the Renaissance Worthington Hotel, the men said.
Thompson recently moved to Arlington from Denver, but he said he worked in the pedicab business in Phoenix. Hernandez is retired from a civilian job at Naval Air Station Fort Worth.
Other cities, including Phoenix and Austin, have pedicab services.
Gary Geske, who operates a Phoenix pedicab business and also manufactures the cabs, said the pedicab business has grown to about 100 companies across the country.
Low startup costs -- with each cab going for about $2,000 -- have helped fuel the growth, he said.
"I think it's the independence," he said. "It's a pretty easy business to start, and a lot of cities don't have regulations about them. For a $2,000 investment, you can have your own business."
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