Cycle Rickshaws
Yep, that's right! City of Berkeley officially frowns upon bicycle taxis, also known the world over as cycle rickshaws or pedicabs. You can change that by sending a letter to the Mayor and City Council on our behalf. And on the behalf of pedicabbers everywhere. The letter is here. Download, personalize, send and let us know you've sent it!

We've approached the City's Permit/Finance Office twice in two years. 2008. 2010. We've been turned down twice now to simply apply for a business tax license! Isn't that crazy?

We aren't some fly-by-night recycling poaching operation either. Nor do we cut down big hoary old oak trees. We aren't rooting for more federal tax dollars for permanent war-making. We've been self-insured since the beginning, "doing it right."

Lastly, we've been asked by Berkeley residents and businesses to provide service in Berkeley. For weddings. For a farmers' market. Nope, can't in Berkeley. Pedicabbing in Berkeley, the city with purple bike lane road signs is ILLEGAL. And it's not like we don't have plenty to do already. But it just seems wrong for a city to proclaim its "green" credentials, and then turn around and disallow bicycle taxis.

So here's the deal.

Use our handy-dandy letter to email the City Council and Mayor. Let 'em know that "Green" Berkeley ought to allow tailpipe-free bicycle taxis on its streets.

For a fanny pack full of reasons. Take your pick: "green jobs" to fill out the East Bay "Green Economic Corridor," for the nightlife fun aspect of it, to see how Berkeley, well, Berkeley this town of 100,000 can be! Bike-based businesses already exist in Berkeley: Pedal Xpress for one. Probably food delivery too. Just a few more rungs down the ladder and Berkeley will enjoy its own beach someday -- that area currently known as I-80. Well anyway, choose your own reasons.

Join in the fun.

You can download our letter template here and send a printed, snail mail copy to the Mayor. You can modify it with your opinions (pro-pedicab please) and send a PDF copy to your elected politicians. To the Berkeley Daily Planet. To the Daily Cal. To the Squelch. Or to the North Bay Bohemian. Whatever suits you.

If you're up to it, you can run back and forth on University bridge with a sign above I-80. It's up to you. Just take a photo or CC us so we know you've written in!

We'll post your name here as well, in perpetuity.

Thanks in advance!
Ken Ott
Backseat
UC Berkeley graduate
Berkeley visitor/shopper

P.S.: Yes, I own a pedicab company. But this isn't just for me. It's for anyone who would choose to pedicab in Berkeley. Such as a certain pedicab company owner who lives in Berkeley. ;)

The Benefits of Pedicabs in BERKELEY!

• Rides are endlessly fun!
• Pedicabs don't pollute our air the way gas engine car taxis do, though we don't travel to SFO either
• Increased perception of public safety, more eyes on the street
• Ambassadorship for Berkeley: pedicab drivers help visitors and residents find ATMs, good places to eat, drink, party, and then how to get back to the freeway/BART/etc -- all at no expense to City of Berkeley
• Increase Berkeley's cachet. Every world-class city needs a variety of transport services -- and amenities!
• Locally owned and operated
• Employs local residents of all backgrounds! (OK, we're still training people, but we're getting there!)
• We'll list your name in the shout outs! (below)
• You will improve your karmic standing in heaven/hell/Berkeley.

Backseat Driver Pedicab
500 William St., Suite 120
Oakland, CA 94612

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