APD plans pedicab crackdown

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Some downtown pedicab drivers are receiving criticism for the way they're getting around town. While some follow the rules, others don't.  Now police are looking to step up enforcement.

"We do have some issues we need to address with the pedicab owners in the downtown area," said Lt. David Ortiz with the Austin Police Department.

Some of those issues include pedicabs running red lights and stop signs, blowing through barricades, riding on sidewalks and going the wrong way down a one-way street.

"You don't want to steadfastly enforce all the rules all the time, or laws. But you do have to make sure people are safe and public safety is our first and foremost objective in the downtown areas," said Lt. Ortiz. "I believe that pedicab operators have taken advantage of that and it's been brought to our attention and we're going to address it."

Those issues will be addressed in a meeting set for September 7th. The meeting will be between downtown pedicab owners and the Austin Police Department. Police hope by addressing the safety issues, they'll be able to come to a compromise.

Pedicab owners also have suggestions they would like to address in the meeting. Particularly, being able to go through some barricaded areas to pick up passengers and changing their staging area from 6th and San Jacinto, to 6th and Trinity.

"Especially when there are street closures," said John Fisher with Roadkill Pedicabs. "It's important we have access to the customers."

He said, "Between 2 and 3 am, we call it the power hour, is when we're most busy. But, it's also the most dangerous part of the night."

Fisher understands that not all pedicab drivers follow the rules.

"But, there are some bad apples just like anything," he said.

According to some recent statistics released by the Austin Police Department, the number of collisions between motorists and bicyclists, which include pedicabs, have dropped compared to the same time last year.

Between the months of January and June, in 2009 there were 202 accidents. In 2010 there were 170 accidents.

Those statistics also highlight the number of citations handed out to bicyclists and pedicabs, which have also dropped. Within those same months, in 2009 there were 689 citations handed out and in 2010 there were 491.

"I've seen a lot of reckless driving on the part of both automobiles and pedicab drivers. We try to police ourselves within our own companies," said Fisher.

His vehicles have to have an inspection sticker and have working lights. He has more than enough lighting and reflectors on his pedicabs then the city requires.

Fisher's precautionary safety measures are a result of last year's incident with one of his pedicab employees. One of his drivers, and the passengers inside, were badly injured by a hit-and-run driver. That pedicab driver ended up in the hospital.

"It's taught us a thing or two about being extra vigilant," he said.

The search is still on for the driver that hit that pedicab.