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Pedicab tours run into petty blockade

by Steve Vaughan

Proposal

Mr. Mayor and Council Members,

As a 35-year resident of the Williamsburg area, I have always had a deep interest in and appreciation for the history of this area. Three years ago, my interest led me to begin working as a tour guide conducting school group and ghost tours; and a costumed interpreter at Jamestown Settlement. I am also very active in the local cycling community. Last summer, I got the idea that a pedicab service that offers tours around town could really help tourism around Williamsburg. In August 2011, I founded Colonial Pedicab, LLC.  I am lucky that this allows me to fulfill two of my passions: cycling and history.

 Colonial Pedicab, LLC is designed to give a variety of tours around the historic district. We would like to provide history tours, romantic candlelight tours, date night tours, birthday tours, a colonial pub-crawl, and picture scavenger hunt tours. Our knowledgeable tour guides will take care of the physical labor of getting around town, while our patrons relax and enjoy a piece of history from the comfort and safety of our pedicabs. This service is particularly useful for the elderly, people with mobility issues and small children. In fact, a pedicab tour service would help satisfy Americans with Disabilities Act requirements. In my research and experience from riding people at other venues, people love riding in pedicabs.  It is a totally unique experience. All drivers will be licensed tour guides, certified by the Williamsburg Police Department and will be focused on providing a safe, fun environment for our passengers. It is also important to note that pedicab tours would not detract from the very different tour in a horse and carriage.  It would just add a different type of tour.

For those not familiar with pedicabs; they are three wheeled pedal powered vehicles, no different than any bicycle.  In almost every respect they are safer than bicycles.  For instance, they are more stable than bicycles. They are driven by trained drivers.  Pedicabs are both solid and safe because they are equipped with hydraulic brakes, suspension, steel frame, a fiberglass one piece passenger compartment; a lighting system including running lights, brake lights, turn signals and head light, and safety belts. My pedicabs are manufactured by Mainstreet Pedicabs, the premier maker of pedicabs since 1992. The pedicabs are certified by the U.S General Services Administration and meet rigorous federal government standards, and meet zero carbon footprint standards.

 There is one problem at this moment: we have been blocked from attaining a necessary permit in the City of Williamsburg. As an already licensed tour guide with another tour company and a certified business in James City County, I assumed that we could begin giving tours in Williamsburg as soon as I could get a tour guide license under my new business name. However, there is now an ordinance circulating the City Council that would ban pedicabs. This expedited ordinance would make it illegal for all pedicabs to operate in the historic district. Further, a proposal is being presented that would allow only walking tours, which is essentially showing favoritism to certain other businesses.

 Unfortunately, Colonial Pedicab, LLC has not been given the opportunity to demonstrate the benefits of pedicabs for the Williamsburg economy. There are three things that I would like to highlight about how my business will benefit Williamsburg.

 First, the City of Williamsburg aims to be small business friendly. Colonial Pedicab, LLC is the very definition of a small business; as there is  only one cab and two drivers at this time. And, we have no plans of growth beyond what the pedicab tour market will bear.  Second, as the business grows, it will bring jobs, specifically for college students, as pedicab tour guides to the area. Third, it will add value to tourism. This is especially important for those visitors that have a difficult time walking the entire historic district, but do not have motorized wheel chairs. The line has been drawn at pedicabs for some unknown reason.  I request that the line be drawn to include all pedal powered vehicles and move the line to exclude motorized vehicles.

 All I ask is for the City Council not to pass this ordinance. Allow my business to grow, and I can work with the city to be sure that we comply with any requirements.  A year from now, if there is evidence that the pedicabs are somehow taking away from the historic district, then a public discussion of the matter should take place where the pros and cons can be weighed. 

 In conclusion, I would like to ask  the city to join many other tourist destinations by allowing a premium pedicab tour company to operate; and prove the value that Colonial Pedicab, LLC will add to the tourism business that our area is so dependent upon. Unfortunately, if this ban passes, locals and visitors will never be able to have this unique experience in Williamsburg. 

Thank You,

 Bob Arditi

757-870-6778

www.colonialpedicab.com

Saturday May 12 was a fun and beautiful day at Chickahominy riverfront park.  Colonial Pedicab had a great time riding people around the beautiful park and we had a chance to let people checkout our MainStreet  Boardwalk Pedicab.

Check out this link and see the highest paid pedicab driver EVER! He shows how much fun the passengers are having and the interaction that the pedicab experience gives to the passengers. See you out thers!

wisdom of  Confucius