An Update on Pedicabs

An Update on PedicabsFlickr/Lorkin
Amy Stephenson
Published on September 21, 2012
Remember when we told you pedicabs were coming? We have a teensy update on the status of their arrival.

Cabrio Night issued a press release last week. Quoth:
San Francisco - Sick of waiting for Muni? Can’t find a cab? Towncars too expensive?! Next month, San Franciscans will have a new way to get around the city: Cabrio Taxi’s pedicabs. Cabrio is rolling out their night-time operation, dba Cabrio Night, to service commercial corridors in North Beach, Union Square, SOMA, Mission, Castro, Hayes Valley, the Haight(s), Divisadero, Fillmore, Polk, and Marina. You know Cabrio as the sparkly reds that usually paint The Embarcadero. This September, Cabrio (Abraham Pedicab LLC), obtained final permits through SFPD that will enable operations to expand beyond the waterfront. Each pedicab driver will operate on “the tip system” -- i.e. the customer pays what they believe to be fair. Of course, geography will naturally limit some long trips, but these iron-legged cyclists manage more than you would guess. Get ready to ride San Francisco in style.
We asked around, and they say they'll be in the 'hood for Hardly Strictly, and you'll see them sort of testing the waters around the Upper Haight until 2013. Once they get settled in some other neighborhoods, they'll expand routine service to our neck of the woods. We were curious where exactly pedicabs would fit on Haight Street, since the street's already a bit hectic what with the parking and the biking and the skateboarders and the parklets and the girl who sings and plays accordion while balancing on a ball and what have you. Andrew Watters, who runs Cabrio Night, tells us they'll try to stick to Page when possible, though obviously they'll have to pick people up on Haight. Currently, they're looking for drivers. It works similarly to regular cabs: you lease the vehicle for about 25% of your income. There's more info at the link, so check it out.