Overturn Berkeley's Bicycle Taxi Ban

Dear Mayor Tom Bates and Berkeley City Councilmembers:

The residents, businesses and municipality of Berkeley take pride in being "greener" and environmentally forward thinking. Recent examples include biodiesel use in the city's fleet, Mayor Bate's pedometer, Measure G, BP's Energy Biosciences Institute, school vegetable gardens, being named 2009's city with most solar paneled homes, and being named "7th greenest" US city. However, there are no bicycle taxis in the city. This is odd.

We have approached the City twice in two years to apply for a business license only to be turned down each time. There is in effect a ban on pedicabs in Berkeley.

We are being asked by Berkeley residents and businesses to provide service in Berkeley, but cannot because there is no rule on the books. No rule to us means no-regulation, but to the Permit office it means no-way!

Many bicylists and bicycle-based businesses call Berkeley home. The city provides purple signed bicycle routes. There is a new and large bicycle parking area next to Downtown Berkeley BART Station. Bicycle industries provide jobs to many Berkeleyans. And of course, bicycles are part of Richard Register's 1986 vision for an "EcoCity Berkeley." We are confused then as to why the city does not allow bicycle taxis ("pedicabs") to work in this city.

We ask the city to permit Pedicab drivers to provide human-powered transportation service on city streets. Pedicabs, also known as cycle rickshaws across the globe, are the ultimate hybrid. And as you know, Berkeley loves hybrids.

We ask the city's Finance/Permit office to issue business licenses to Pedicab businesses, particularly those who are already voluntarily self-insured and who train their drivers.

Finally, as an aside, we ask the city to also allow hand-pulled rickshaws and palanquins to operate in this green city too.

It is time for EcoCity Berkeley to have pedicabs too, not just Oakland, San Francisco, San Jose, Portland, DC, New York, Austin, Boulder, Denver, Santa Cruz, Walnut Creek, and literally hundreds of other cities.

Pedicabs are green.
Pedicabs provide job opportunities.
Pedicabs do not compete directly with automobile taxi cabs.
Pedicabs provide novelty and entertainment, boosting nightlife.

Let's allow pedicabs on Berkeley city streets!

Thank you for your time and consideration.