Help Fight the Pedicab Ordinance

Hi All—

The Chicago Pedicab Association needs financial support to continue the fight against the City’s draconian ordinance, scheduled to take effect June 7th.  All donations will go towards legal expenses, lobbying efforts and organizing costs.

We have raised approximately $3,000 from within the pedicab community.  The regulations come at particularly difficult time, the end of a long cold winter.  Independent operators and fleet owners alike are also struggling come up with the funds they need to pay for licenses & associated costs, insurance and to bring their vehicles into compliance.

I’m reaching out to Chainlinkers today in the hopes that you can help us reach our interim goal of $5,000.  Donations via PayPal  can be made on our website  chicagopedicabassociation.org or directly to chicagopedicabassociation@gmail.com.  We can also accept checks made payable to “Chicago Pedicab Association, NFP” and mailed to:

Chicago Pedicab Association

PO Box 478414

Chicago IL, 60647-8414

Donations of any amount are appreciated.  You can find more information about us and the new pedicab ordinance at our website and Facebook page.

 

Thanks!

 

T.C. O’Rourke

Board Member, Chicago Pedicab Association

Views: 679

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by T.C. O'Rourke on May 24, 2014 at 2:58pm

We have & are developing a video, but thanks for the tip.

Davis Moore said:

Have you explored using a crowdfunding sights as well?

Something like indigogo or gofundme?

Permalink Reply by EssFresh on May 25, 2014 at 9:58am

I donated what I could afford through your paypal link. I like seeing you guys on the road and visible. Good luck!

Permalink Reply by Crazy David 84 Furlongs on May 27, 2014 at 3:40am

Please explain what is wrong with the Pedicab ordinance?     Vehicles used for transporting other people need to be safe and regulated.  When I get into a Taxi I expect a certain modicum of safety.   Its the same reason why "unlicensed" Taxi cabs should also be illegal.   Why should a Pedicab be exempt from regulation?   

Permalink Reply by Michelle Milham on May 27, 2014 at 4:04am

That is not what is at issue/being protested. 

What is being protested is the ban of pedicabs from Michigan and State Streets (two of the biggest streets for tourists in Chicago, which puts undue hardship on the pedicabbers, as many of their trips start or end on these streets,) and there is pretty much no logical reason for them to be banned.

Crazy David 84 Furlongs said:

Please explain what is wrong with the Pedicab ordinance?     Vehicles used for transporting other people need to be safe and regulated.  When I get into a Taxi I expect a certain modicum of safety.   Its the same reason why "unlicensed" Taxi cabs should also be illegal.   Why should a Pedicab be exempt from regulation?   

Permalink Reply by T.C. O'Rourke on May 27, 2014 at 5:30pm

The Chicago Pedicab Association welcomes regulation and we support the basic tenets of the ordinance.  Operator and vehicle licenses, insurance, posting of fares and basic safety standards will raise the level of service offered.

Unfortunately, the ordinance is laden with ill-conceived requirements and unfair restrictions.  In addition to the geographic bans Michelle mentioned, there is also a requirement that operators have held a driver's license for a period of one year.  This demand will put many experienced riders out of work, hardly in the public interest.

In addition the BACP can revoke licenses for ANY infraction, no matter how small and the fines within the ordinance run as high as $5,000!

You read more about the very changes we seek and the rationale behind them at www.chicagopedicabassociation.org

Crazy David 84 Furlongs said:

Please explain what is wrong with the Pedicab ordinance?     Vehicles used for transporting other people need to be safe and regulated.  When I get into a Taxi I expect a certain modicum of safety.   Its the same reason why "unlicensed" Taxi cabs should also be illegal.   Why should a Pedicab be exempt from regulation?   

Permalink Reply by T.C. O'Rourke on May 27, 2014 at 5:32pm

Thanks so much to you, EssFresh & to all who have donated!  It is much appreciated.

EssFresh said:

I donated what I could afford through your paypal link. I like seeing you guys on the road and visible. Good luck!

Permalink Reply by John Centofante on June 8, 2014 at 2:54pm
I am following with interest what is going on in Chicago with your new ordinance and one important detail is the definition of a pedicab. Everything is based on the premise of being for hire or charging a fare. If you didn't charge a fare, then by definition you are not a pedicab and not bound by the restrictions. You basically operate off tips. But if your not a pedicab, then maybe you won't have the downtown restrictions unless bicycles are banned too. Without a fare your a bicycle in my opinion.

Good luck
Permalink Reply by T.C. O'Rourke on June 8, 2014 at 5:03pm

Hi John--

Yeah, I'm aware of the definition via "for hire" in the ordinance. 

First, I believe we have a right to operate on the public roadways, as a business, particularly when we are paying for licenses and being charged the ground transportation tax.  We offer a green, local and fun service to the public and I am not ashamed to charge for it.  All my efforts are currently going into defending our rights.

Secondly, the police are unlikely to accept this explanation, at best it would go to the courts.  Anyone following your suggestion risks considerable fines, impoundment of their pedicab, legal fees and a loss of income. A licensed pedicab operator using a licensed pedicab would be even less likely to get away with this and these licenses can easily be revoked.

Finally, if you are working for tips --a widespread practice here and the norm some cities-- you are still asking for some compensation.  You would really need to offer free rides.  Even then, accepting tips might be construed as payment, certainly by a overbearing bureaucracy that is trying to run us out of business.

T.C.


John Centofante said:

I am following with interest what is going on in Chicago with your new ordinance and one important detail is the definition of a pedicab. Everything is based on the premise of being for hire or charging a fare. If you didn't charge a fare, then by definition you are not a pedicab and not bound by the restrictions. You basically operate off tips. But if your not a pedicab, then maybe you won't have the downtown restrictions unless bicycles are banned too. Without a fare your a bicycle in my opinion.

Good luck
Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on June 9, 2014 at 6:09am

I support having some regulations (i.e., pedicab licensing) in order to weed out unsafe operators.  I agree that the geographic restrictions are bad news for the pedicab operators and for potential passengers. I plan to make a donation and hope that you have success in overturning the geographic restrictions and in getting a reasonable licensing policy that does not require a driver's license in addition to a pedicab operator license.

Permalink Reply by Kevin Mulcky on June 9, 2014 at 7:23am

How's the enforcement going? I'm still seeing pedicabs on Michigan...

Permalink Reply by T.C. O'Rourke on June 16, 2014 at 12:24pm

The Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection has announced it will NOT be enforcing the operator or vehicle licenses at this time.  Largely because they had issued exactly one operator and zero vehicle licenses before the ordinance took effect.

However, ALL other provisions of the ordinance are in effect, including the street bans.  Pedicabbers using Michigan are subject to a $500 fine.

Personally, I have been avoiding Michigan & State as much as possible.  However, working the Monroe (@ Columbus) exit of Blues Fest this weekend, I rode on Michigan 1 block north or south whenever heading west, since there is no other option.

Keep in mind the suggested alternative offered by the City during public meetings, Columbus Dr., was closed for the Fest as it is for Taste, Lollapalooza and all the other events we work :-/



KevinM said:

How's the enforcement going? I'm still seeing pedicabs on Michigan...

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