posted June 5, 2007
City horse carriage operators said they are having problems with a new competitor - the pedicab.
Mark Neal said drivers of the rickshaw-like, three-wheeled vehicles come up suddenly on their horses and startle them.
Another carriage operator said he had to ask one of the pedicab drivers twice not to spook his horse. He said the driver came up again and told him, "We're going to run you out and own this town."
Johnny Brown, operator of the new pedicab firm, told the City Council he is playing by the rules and has $500,000 in insurance with Lloyds of London.
He said he has six units and there currently are five drivers.
Mr. Brown said the rides are free, but the drivers hope for tips.
He said, "We connect various parts of town." For example, he said he gave a pedicab ride to a couple who had walked across the Walnut Street Bridge and were too tired to walk back.
He said his drivers can shuttle visitors from one venue to another downtown.
City Councilman Jack Benson noted that the vehicles use the sidewalks, not the streets.
He said he was almost run over by one recently while he was walking downtown.
"They are somewhat dangerous," he said.
One horse carriage operator said he saw a pedicab driver try to take a couple up steep Second Street, but he couldn't make it.
"That was me," said Mr. Brown with a smile.
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