Ogden could soon get a bicycle built for three
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1 Comment [ View ]OGDEN -- A local entrepreneur hopes to give downtown Ogden tourists a unique view of Ogden, from the back of human-powered taxis.
Peter Barrera plans to launch Ogden City Pedicabs to advocate urban bicycling as a way to protect the environment and promote local high-adventure recreation.
"The only way to raise consciousness is to have bikes on the road," said Barrera, who also operates the Ogden Farmer's Market and Old World Christmas Market.
"It's another means of providing downtown mobility to tourists."
A pedicab is a bike taxi equipped with a two-person carriage with a retractable canopy. Pedicabs operate in several large U.S. cities, including New York City, San Diego and Boston.
Barrera has applied for a municipal business license for Ogden City Pedicabs. A public hearing regarding the application is scheduled for 10 a.m. April 18 in the conference room on the ninth floor of the Municipal Building, 2549 Washington Blvd.
City ordinances require the hearing because the pedicab service is considered mass transit.
John Patterson, Ogden's chief administrative officer, said the pedicabs will benefit the municipality's environment and image.
"Not only is it transportation that doesn't take gasoline, it also provides a 'cool' factor," he said. "It adds a certain dimension that makes us a cool community."
Mary McKinley, a member of the Sustainable Ogden Committee, a group formed by Mayor Matthew Godfrey to spearhead local environmental initiatives, agrees.
"For people visiting Ogden, it will be a unique attraction that will be a lot of fun," she said.
"A pedicab will be helpful because it won't be polluting and will encourage a healthy outdoor experience in setting the tone for alternative transportation."
Barrera initially plans to operate two pedicabs, which will cost about $3,500 each. He may add more pedicabs depending on customer demand.
The pedicabs would operate daily from April through December and would primarily run from Washington Boulevard to Wall Avenue between 26th Street and the Ogden River.
Primary pickup and drop-off points for passengers would include the FrontRunner intermodal hub at 23rd Street and Wall Avenue, as well as the Salomon Center and Megaplex 13 cinema, both in The Junction entertainment complex downtown.
Ogden City Pedicabs would also conduct special historic tours along 25th Street and travel to the George S. Eccles Dinosaur Park Museum on East Park Boulevard, Barrera said.
The pedicabs would operate in regular traffic lanes that have a posted speed limit below 40 mph, Barrera said. Each pedicab is equipped with lights, turn signals and a reflective triangle on the back.
Pedicab drivers would negotiate their own fares and would work primarily on tips with a recommended rate of $1 to $2 per block for two passengers, Barrera said.
Drivers would serve as city ambassadors by sharing points of interest with customers, he said.
They will be required to undergo background checks and must possess a good driving record and valid driver's license.
The pedicabs would also function as moving billboards and would be available for advertising to promote local events and festivals, Barrera said.
"It's a very cool way to do advertising."
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What??? what, "downtown Ogden Tourists" I have yet to see any of them. Anyone visiting Ogden usually has the largest SUV on the planet with them. Take a good nap.
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