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News For some, pedicabs around Petco are a petty nuisance By Romina Cleary August 29, 2005 San Diego--The city of San Diego continues to curb the operation of pedicabs around Petco Park. Taxicabs and horse-drawn carriages have their own drop-off areas near the ballpark, so why not the pedicabs? The pedicab business has been operating in downtown San Diego for ten years. Surprisingly, the city council failed to take into consideration the pedicab business when creating the transportation plan for Petco Park. The January 6, 2004 Petco Park Event Transportation and Parking Management Plan stated, “Pedicab activity is specifically prohibited within the ballpark protection zone when it has been designated as a special event zone.” The given reason was “to avoid conflicts with the pedestrians and unauthorized vehicles.” In July the city handed regulation of the pedicab business over to Metropolitan Transit System, MTS. According to the Union Tribune, MTS has imposed new rules, which should, “address pedicab drivers who are rude or engage in reckless behaviors.” A petition submitted by irate pedicab operators in 2004 asked why the pedicab contingent wasn’t considered when creating loading and unloading zones at Petco Park. Despite arriving at city hall with 503 signatures, the petition has failed to make an impression on the city of San Diego. To date, the city has not responded to the document. Ryan at Gaslamp Bicycle and Pedicabs is baffled by the planning commission’s failure to consider the needs of the pedicab business. He told Vyuz that all he wants is fair treatment. “The riders are still not allowed to drop off at Petco Park,” he says. “The Pedicabs must drop their riders off a few blocks from the entrance of the park.” “If you’re crippled and ninety years old, the pedicab will tell you ‘No, get off the cab. This is as far as I can go’!” The pedicabs industry wants to be treated fairly, meaning having its own designated drop-off point at Petco Park. Ryan stated that taxicabs and “even the horse and carriage” have designated locations to drop off their riders. Pedicabs appear to have a dubious reputation in other parts of the country and globe. Las Vegas recently outlawed pedicabs from transporting passengers up and down the strip. Too many accidents, apparently. Pedicabs were banned in Pakistan and parts of Indonesia. A visitor to Vietnam grumbled about how annoying the pedicabs are over there. “They follow you everywhere, down side streets and around the block,” he lamented.
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