Pedicabs have grown in popularity over the past decade for many reasons. First, they are an excellent way to go a reasonably short distance without hailing a cab and paying their usually high minimums. It's also a mode of public transportation that uses no natural resources and basically has a zero carbon footprint. Above all, it's fun, adding to the enjoyment of visiting a tourist area or just going about your daily business.
For these reasons, and more, being a pedicab driver is an alluring possibility. You can usually work your own schedule, you can stay in shape and you can make money doing something fun. If you're thinking this might be a great vocation, there are many basic items to consider before taking the plunge. Are you physically able to do the job? Can you reasonably buy or rent a pedicab in your area? Is there a market for your services? Should you set up a business, work for an established service or join a pedicab co-op of some sort.
Let's start with the physical demands of pedicab riding. To be very clear, riding a pedicab is not just like riding a bike - despite the fact that a pedicab is a bike. Almost everything you do and feel is different from any two (or three) wheeled cycle you've operated in the past.
There are several to choose from on the market, but for the purpose of this article we will focus on the Park Place Pedicab. The Park Place was built to be lightweight and strong. Pedicabs are still a lot heavier than a bike, particularly when you have a few hundred pounds of humans in the back. Getting underway from a stop is a chore and can take a surprising amount of exertion. Because the pedicab is a very wide three-wheeled vehicle, it does not handle anything like a bicycle, in terms of steering and maneuvering. For example, on a bicycle, you can lean slightly to keep on track or make slight turns in either direction. On a pedicab, all steering is performed by the front wheel and it is impossible to lean (not that you'd want to with paying customers behind you).
Although you can't lean, you'll find pedicabs can make extremely tight turns (even tighter than a bike). This can be very useful when operating in tight spaces. If you're a cyclist, you'll also find it odd that you don't have to put your foot down when you stop. This can take some getting used to.
Despite the fact that Park Place Pedicabs have an advanced, rear hydraulic brake system, it is critical to use both the front and rear brakes to bring the vehicle to a safe stop. Given the weight of the pedicab and passengers, using the front brake alone will eventually damage either the brake and/or the fork. It is also important to keep both hands on the handlebars, so you are ready to steer or brake at any time. It also makes your passengers a lot more comfortable.
Being a pedicab driver is hard, but interesting work. Owning a pedicab also gives you the opportunity to embark on the entrepreneurial spirit, and a Park Place Pedicab is great cab to start with due to its pricing and build quality.
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