Ashley Mahaney, a studio art senior, sometimes makes enough money for a month's rent in one night of pedicabbing.
But restrictions implemented by the city have made it difficult for Mahaney and her fellow pedicabbers to make a living.
"The city of Austin took away our privileges to ride through the cross streets on Sixth Street, basically making the business not even worth doing," she said.
Pedicabs have many restrictions concerning when and where they can work. They can operate from 8 a.m. to 4 a.m., but not during the morning and evening rush hours and from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The passenger transport area is bounded by Interstate Highway 35, Mopac Boulevard, Oltorf Boulevard and Dean Keeton Street.
The city's Urban Transportation Commission recently recommended two resolutions to change limitations on pedicab operations.
Commissioner Patrick Goetz proposed the first resolution, which would completely lift restrictions on pedicabs.
"Pedicabs just happen to be cabs that are also bikes, so what's the reason for stopping them?" Goetz said. "Why would you single out one kind of vehicle for operating hours? We don't limit normal bicyclists. We're trying to reduce greenhouse gases, but we're taking pedicabs off the street at the time we need them the most."
The issue was first brought to the attention of the commission by Goetz. He was contacted by Greg Foulkes, general manager and owner of Capital Pedicabs, after having to get a special permit to service a company contracting for transportation to and from a convention.
Capital and Roadkill pedicabs were granted a special request in October to waive the 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. rule for Oct. 4, said Steve Grassfield, ground transportation manager of the Public Works Department. But the one-day waiver restricted pedicabbers from specific congested roads.
"Myself and a colleague went out and observed the pedicabbers, and we observed nine traffic violations, and they caused back-up in six situations," Grassfield said. "They ignored the instructions to stay off the busy streets."
Carl Tepper, also a transportation commissioner, presented a different resolution, which would push pedicab owners and city staff to reach a compromise to expand the services of pedicabs.
"To me, it's common sense not to allow pedicabs all over town all times of day. I think there are already serious safety issues and congestion problems that we don't need to add to," Tepper said. "But it is very possible that the current restrictions are too restrictive, and there may very well be an opportunity to loosen those restrictions."
Metrocycle Pedicab owner Nathan Litson said he does not think there should be a problem with lifting the time restrictions, but believes there should be restrictions on pedicabs driving on streets with a speed limit over 30 miles per hour, since that could be dangerous.
Foulkes said lifting the restrictions will definitely allow the pedicab business to expand.
"My company has tours - we're starting to give historic downtown tours, and these restrictions limit the times we can give them," he said.
The city has not enforced these rules until recently, Foulkes said. But Grassfield said the city enforces these rules the same as they do for cars and taxis.
Litson said he has taken tours past the I-35 eastern boundary before without being reprimanded.
"We do operate during those hours on special events during [Austin City Limits Music Festival], but I guess we weren't supposed to," Litson said. "No one said anything."
Mahaney said she believes that even if the restrictions are not lifted, they will have little effect on most pedicab drivers.
"There are a few stray pedicabbers during the day, but most of us work at night," she said.
Grassfield said the city is still looking at the resolutions and has not made a decision yet.
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