[dc-critmass-list] more on tasered driver / tourmobile

[Lacuna1957]

Good points and I would go further an say that we should start getting  
WABA and others to start campaigning for a motor vehicle free zone in  
& around the Mall by making Independence & Constituion pedestian/bike  
only.

This would serve to make for a safe/ cleaner enviroment and help  
pedicabs increase their presence as well as showing tourists an  
alternative to the car to get around.

-Dave,
via iPhone-hence typo's...

On Jul 19, 2011, at 12:31, PedalPower Pete  
<pedal_power_pete at hotmail.com> wrote:

>
> http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CHRG-107hhrg74727/pdf/CHRG-107hhrg74727.pdf
>
>
> I came across the above-linked report, issued by a congressional  
> committee to protect small business, in a document search to  
> understand the scope of Tourmobile's charter.  I believe that in  
> reviewing the charter or the prospectus (may need to obtain via a  
> FOIL request), we can see if Tourmobile is overstepping.
>
> At the time of this hearing, Tourmobile had 25 stops. The question  
> is, does Tourmobile enjoy an unfair advantage at the expense of  
> small business?
>
> The concession was granted in 1969, after the Parks Dept (?)  
> presented a prospectus. That's odd. The Parks Dept is all wrapped up  
> in it somehow.
>
> If a pedicab driver took care not to solicit anywhere near the 25  
> stops, how is that interfering with the Tourmobile?  This is a very  
> similar argument presented to us years ago by a Central Park  
> administrator, that pedicabs would compete with the carriage horses  
> if allowed to pick up and drop off. And your point is?  Evidently,  
> the Tourmobile lobby helped kill the DC Circulator, operated by a  
> BID, according to the committee report.
>
> Well, now, in Central Park, we have 13 approved spots where  
> registered NYC pedicabs may pick up and drop off passengers.  So,  
> pedicabs have moved the ball a few yards forward.
>
> Still, this is a new low for DC and the Parks Service.  When I  
> helped a company launch in 1995 down there (Potomac Pedicabs, no  
> longer operating), this issue came up. It obviously hasn't gone away.
>
> Even then with just a handful of pedicabs in town, Tourmobile and  
> its exclusive access was a sticking point. I thought all of this had  
> been consensed upon lately.  And aren't taxis allowed to drop off  
> and pick up around the mall?
>
> DC Pedicab operators are going to have to get together, put up a  
> little fight, hire a lawyer (just like we did with NYCPOA when we  
> won an Article 78 lawsuit vs. the city), and take on the Tourmobile  
> and the Parks Dept, as well as consider suing for aggressive use of  
> force upon the tasered driver.  I hope the driver has recovered.   
> Any news?
>
> -peter m.
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