No more than 10 pedicabs could operate in Evanston under an ordinance to be considered by aldermen Monday.
A city staff memo says the ordinance is designed to address “traffic and safety concerns at Northwestern University athletic events.”
The emergence of the proposal here follows adoption of a pedicab ordinance in Chicago last year that limits the number of pedicabs there to 200.
That ordinance was pushed by 44th Ward Alderman Tom Tunney whose ward includes Wrigley Field and Boystown, both popular with pedicab operators.
The Evanston ordinance would require pedicab drivers to pay $25 a year for a pedicab chauffeur’s license and owners of the cabs to pay $150 a year to license the vehicles.
The Chicago ordinance imposes a $25 license fee on drivers and a $250 fee on the vehicles. Both ordinances require pedicab companies to carry liability insurance and require that drivers be at least 18 years old.
The proposal to impose taxicab-style limits on the number of pedicab licenses and to require pedicab licensing at all contrasts with Evanston’s decision in January to not regulate transportation network providers like Uber and Lyft, although that decision followed adoption of a state law imposing insurance requirements on the ride-sharing services.
The Chicago Pedicab Association has argued that Chicago’s ordinance kills jobs and discouraged green transportation. And the libertarian-leaning Illinois Policy Institute said the Chicago restrictions showed the city council there wasn’t serious about promoting environmentally friendly transportation or entrepreneurial opportunities for city residents.
Lighting up Central Street on a game light last October. (Jane Grover photo)
Alderman Jane Grover, whose 7th Ward includes the NU athletic complex, says she hadn’t seen pedicabs in Evanston before two sold-out NU football games last fall.
She says the pedicabs appeared to create problems for police trying to keep traffic moving along Central Street and were occupying parking spaces impeding the flow of bus traffic on the street.
“Some of them didn’t have lights or even reflectors, which creates a hazard at night games,” Grover added. “If there was a way to bring them in line with other traffic regulations and safety issues, that would address a lot of my concerns.”
Pedicab regulations across the country were the subject of a 2013 report by the Business Enterprise Law Clinic at The John Marshall Law School in Chicago.
Good intention, but not the the right remedy
I have ridden pedicabs a couple of times in San Francisco and New York. They are a great and efficient alternative to regular taxis, and very enjoyable when the weather is nice. I am pleased to hear of Ald. Grover’s concern regarding their effect on traffic and safety. Limiting the number of pedicabs does not seem like a solution though.
The Evanston Way
It wouldn’t be the Evanston Way without making it hard for businesses to do their business or open their business.
Make the streets bike accessible
I live and work in Evanston. I'm against having these pedicabs around town. Let's focus on making the streets bike accessible and not waste time accommodating these pedicabs. Try driving down Chicago Avenue with these people shuttling restaurant patrons in the middle of the night to Howard Street. Hogging the road, pulling dangerous u-turns.
Pedicab lanes, anyone?
You know what would be great? A pedicab lane.
Why the cap at 10?
The proposed ordinance is reasonable except for the cap at 10 on number of licenses. Licensing fees are not too high and there are reasonable safety provisions.