Looking back - arrival of pedicabs in Darwin

Here's an article from the NT News dated 26th August 2011.

I found this amongst some newspaper cuttings and thought it worth posting for a look back on when pedicabs started operation in Darwin.

The biassed opinions of a few

Here in Darwin at this time of year we have a wonderful Festival of Arts that runs for about 3 weeks. It ended this weekend and once again has provided Darwin with some wonderful displays of visual and performance art and some great music. 

There were some wonderful outdoor experiences this year including a Mini, Short Film festival on wheels by way of  Projector Bike. From Melbourne. Tons of bicycles on the street and to top it all off people this year had the opportunity to be ridden from show to show in Pedicabs!

THE Projector Bike

Funnin round on bikes and cabs

I had a great experience during the Darwin Festival riding in the back of a pedicab. The city seemed happier, friendlier and moving at a pace similar to how I found the city when I arrived here 15 years ago. Ahhh the soft night air, the open sky and the smiles of people, who, like me enjoyed the fact that a slower, more relaxed way had returned to Darwin town. The riders were ultra friendly and were also enjoying the atmosphere of the Darwin Festival as seen from the perspective of a self propelled dream machine... (my personal opinion)

Unfortunately and absolutely predictably there has already been public backlash against the Pedicabs of Darwin. Based on the portion of a morning Talk-back radio show I managed to catch on the way to work, I'd say Pedicabs are already receiving more than their fair share of flack from opinionated members of the public, irritable and impatient drivers and of course disgruntled taxi and bus drivers. Unfortunately I didn't manage to hear the whole story but it seemed that the owner of the company and riders were not interviewed and the segment appeared to be angled toward giving air to complaints against pedicabs rather than discussing the potential benefits to having them cruising our city streets.

ABC TV News also ran an short story on Pedicabs based on their perceived nuisance impact on Darwin city streets.

Of course this is not uncommon. Cities from Mumbai to New York have reported conflict between taxi drivers and Pedicab/Rickshaw/Becak riders. More often than not it appears to me that the motor vehicle driver's sense of dominion over the road and their perceived sense of entitlement to use it at the expense of vehicles of any other type or mode is the true cause of most of the aggravation. If you consider the size of Darwin and it's population, the amount of space on our roads, the number of streets that pedicabs actually operate on and the fact that we are a tourist oriented city it is very hard to understand why there would be any need for conflict over road space.

I am sure the sudden appearance of up to 10 Pedicabs on our roads will likely have caught many drivers by surprise and, as with cyclists, motorcyclists, horses or any other road users, Darwin drivers appear, as usual, at a loss as to how to behave when confronted with anything other than another car on the road. But surely with a little bit of education about sharing the road, and some friendly encouragement to acknowledge that, just like bicycles, motorcycles even ambulances, Pedicabs are simply another legitimate way of transporting human beings in a manner that is most appropriate to their needs. The right of people to travel according to their need should not really have to be held to account by the demands of the most dominant road users.

Having said all this in the defense of Pedicabs (and their riders) it would be fair also to expect riders to show an equal amount of respect for other road users.

One of the major problems I see concerning this and many other issues on our roads is the attitude in our society which tends toward legislation and legalism, Rights and Wrongs, relying on enforcement by officers of the Law. This way of living seems to create a sense of entitlement rather than fostering attitudes of courtesy and mutual respect and certainly does not create an environment that leads to good 'roadmanship'.

Basically people are more concerned with being Right than being happy. The space that Pedicab culture (if such a thing ever existed) seeks to inhabit is urban but open, slightly less organized by 'laws' but governed instead by the rhythm and movement of people on the street. In a tourist town such as Darwin which seeks to encourage pedestrian use of its central streets and malls (Only a few blocks really) Pedicabs should rise to become the contemporary vehicle of choice. If seen in this context they have some very obvious virtues. Pedicabs are quiet (OK currently they use loud music which may contradict the theories of good 'Roadmanship'), non polluting, fun, fast (compared to walking), slow enough for shoppers or tourists to stop when something catches their eye, healthy and cheep. They are less hazardous to pedestrians and possibly even have the potential to reduce congestion...  

One thing I am sure of is that tensions between Pedicab riders and cabbies definitely seem to be rising. Before leaving the festival on Saturday night I happened to observe a friendly exchange between a Pedicab rider and his passengers. I thought to myself how pleasant Darwin is during the Festival. Then as the pedicab pulled away from the curb at the bottom end of Smith Street just opposite Browns Mart a taxi came charging up the street from considerable distance away (plenty of room to go pass slowly) and tailgated the pedicab beeping his horn! There was a brief exchange of verbal abuse and the taxi sped off, recklessly in my opinion! 

What a sad way to end the night. They can protest all they like. A slow Pedicab, bicycle, or pedestrian in the middle of the street may be a slight annoyance to an impatient driver, but reckless behavior behind the wheel of a heavy motor vehicle is in my opinion far greater menace to public safety.

 Kid's eye view of the beautiful world from a Rainbow Cab

Have a nice Day.

Darwin Pedicabs

Surprise Surprise...!

Finally I have something to post on this blog. About a week ago a mate of mine told me he'd seen Pedicabs in Darwin. Yesterday during my lunch break I drove through town and saw them for myself.

I think I counted four or five Pedicabs.The riders all seem to be backpackers, they charge from $5 per ride and I think they are confined to the City Center gravitating from the Mitchel Street, 'tourist precinct'.

Fantastic!



Pedicab cruising Mitchel Street


Resting the rider

Last night after visiting a performance of Sita & Rama's Mystical Journey in the Botanic Gardens, I took the family for a drive through town and saw more pedicabs.


Wayang Kulit - Sita & Rama's Mystical Journey

Crime fighting Pedicab riders from the UK

Ben, Will and, I presume their new friends
~These guys sense of civic purpose can even be extended to Law Enforcement~

I've been getting Google alerts relating to this story all week and haven't bothered to post but these guys are becoming quite famous and I don't want to miss out on carrying the top Pedicab story of the month.
According to a multitude of recycled articles and somewhere way back into my dim recollections of last week, the original report, a couple of Police officers commandeered a Pedicab and driver to apprehend a naughty guy who was breaching his bail conditions.
According to one report (the last page left in my browser tabs after I'd closed about 15 on the same story!) HERE

"The officers hopped into a pedicab (a two-seat tricycle powered by a cyclist) and pressed driver Ben Matthews into action. Fellow pedicab driver Will Vaughan spotted Matthews as he crossed Castle Green, a park in the center of town, and pedaled over to help."

Well it turns out the guys are actually quite worthy of my attention?! (I still don't know why I didn't post this story when I first read it!) They even have a blog dedicated to their environmentally friendly efforts and it is called:
Mules for the Masses
Which they describe as: Fun Green and Honest - A unique endeavour into sustainable environmentally friendly travel

It is a great blog and definitely fits the bill for my unrealized objectives. Good on you fellas, I hope this good publicity holds you in good stead with your local council and you are not legislated out of existence like so many other Pedicab drivers these days! Maybe your high public profile might be useful in carrying your own special message?

My favorite Pedicab option

Murray the author of the blog CoffeeWaffle, one of my favorites, recently bought a pedicab and is experimenting with how he might put it to use in his home town of Nelson, New Zealand.

Murray's friend Emile with their identical Pedicabs on a street in Nelson

I particularly like the design of their machines and think, if I ever manage to purchase a pedicab, this is the model I will be looking for. It is a Rickshaw/Pedicab(TC98)from the China Vehicle Co., ltd It appear to have everything I am looking for. Simple classic design, not too much fiberglass and a canopy for extra shade!
My plan/dream is beginning to take form as ideas are flooding into my mind about how I might actually get started (a dangerous mix of forward planning and absolute fantasy!). I think it is now time to consider how I might afford to actually purchase one of these beautiful machines!

It's funny I suggested my plan to a guy I met on the street recently and believe it or not he didn't say it was crazy! We spent about an hour on the side of the road discussing how cool it would be to just cruise around helping people to get from A to B! People like the old ladies who don't drive but want to shop at the local Mall. The ones who have to take their chances with the angry traffic because there is virtually no pedestrian access that doesn't involve walking on a motorway! Or the lady I see walking miles to get her three young children to school... etc... etc...
The possibilities were flying thick and fast, I'd finally found someone who could see the beauty in my plan and didn't try to bring me down by pointing out that it would be impossible to make a reasonable profit by doing such things! Am I doing this solely to make money? Is it possible to do something just because it feels good?

I am sure it would be an interesting experience for anyone brave enough to try such a novelty. Before I took a rickshaw ride I was embarrased to get on one and although I wanted to try I declined lots of offers and opportunities. When I finally took that ride it was an absolute joy!