AUSTIN, Texas — Pedicab operators in Austin are urging the city to clarify and enforce safety rules as larger electric pedicabs—some built to carry four to six or more passengers—become more common downtown and around major events.
Drivers raised concerns to the Downtown Commission, saying city staff in recent years have licensed multi-bench pedicabs even though city public guidance still sets a three-passenger limit. They also asked the city to more clearly define what qualifies as a pedicab and to crack down on overloading, speeding, and other unsafe operations.
Downtown Commission member Sania Shifferd described her own concerns about pedicabs near the University of Texas campus, saying, “I go to UT campus several nights a week, and I’m terrified every time a pedicab driver cuts me off.”
Long-time Austin pedicab drivers said the larger, multi-bench electric pedicabs are creating safety issues as they share bike lanes and operate in crowded areas. Patricia Schaub, an Austin pedicab driver, warned that “injuries to a pedestrian from a collision with a large loaded pedicab…could be life changing or life ending.”
Ara O’Keefe, also an Austin pedicab driver, said drivers have documented unsafe behavior.
“Problem riding behaviors that we now have footage of include overloading pedicabs past our three-passenger maximum in Austin, reckless driving, obstructing traffic,” O’Keefe said.
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Michael Bullock, President of the Austin Police Association, said he was not aware of any major pedicab safety problems, but said issues do arise at times related to traffic flow and barricades.
“Every now and then this conversation pops up to a degree related to, you know, pedicabs, how they interact with traffic flow, how they interact with barricades…So, officers are usually able to manage things on just a personal level with them,” Bullock said.
The city’s pedicab code approved electric-assisted pedicabs in 2019 but did not restate maximum passenger requirements. With UT football in full swing, game day Saturday expected to bring heavy pedicab traffic near Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium, and a busy lineup of events coming this October, drivers said the city needs clearer rules and stronger enforcement.
Schaub said she wants the city code to specify a single-bench design if the passenger limit remains three.
“I would like to have it in the code…that a pedicab has a single seat bench. If the passenger limit is indeed three people, it should be one single bench for three people,” Schaub said.
The Downtown Commission took no action tonight, telling the pedicab group to return with a list of proposed code and policy changes for review so the commission can consider recommending changes to the Austin City Council.