§ 13-2-316. ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR PEDICAB SERVICE.

(A)

The requirements of this section apply to operation of a pedicab and are in addition to the requirements in Sections 13-2-312 ( Non-Motorized Service Requirements ), 13-2-313 ( Non-Motorized Service Application Requirements ), and 13-2-314 ( Non-Motorized Service Inspection Requirements ).

(B)

An application for an operating authority must describe the fare structure or structures, which must be posted in the pedicab in a manner approved by the department. Fare rates may be fixed, negotiated with the passenger, or for tips only, and must be agreed upon prior to service being rendered.

(C)

A pedicab service may operate:

(1)

up to 24 hours a day, seven days per week;

(2)

in bike lanes, on the Pfluger Bridge, the Lance Armstrong Bikeway, and the 3rd Street Extension;

(3)

on sidewalks adjacent to the bridges crossing Lady Bird Lake; and

(4)

on public roadways on or within the following boundaries:

(a)

35th, 38th, and 38½ Streets on the north;

(b)

Cherrywood Road, Chestnut Avenue, and Pleasant Valley Road on the east;

(c)

Oltorf Street (West), Lamar Boulevard, and Barton Skyway on the south; and MoPac Boulevard on the west, except as prohibited in subsections (D), (E), (F), (G), and (H); and

(d)

other areas approved for operation by the director.

(D)

A pedicab service may not operate on any roadway with a speed limit exceeding 35 miles per hour.

(E)

A pedicab driver must:

(1)

comply with the traffic laws and regulations applicable to vehicles in addition to the requirements of this section;

(2)

comply with the requirements of Section 13-2-54 ( Display and Inspection of Driver Credentials ) and Section 13-2-55 ( Rest Periods for Drivers );

(3)

limit operation to the travel lane nearest the curb or edge of the roadway, except when necessary to negotiate an obstruction, to turn onto another roadway, to enter a private driveway, or if the pedicab is travelling faster than other traffic; and

(4)

tow no more than one trailer, which may not be attached to a combination bike/passenger unit.

(F)

A pedicab driver may not:

(1)

operate a pedicab on sidewalks or sidewalk areas, except that a pedicab may use the sidewalks adjacent to the bridges over Lady Bird Lake to cross the lake;

(2)

operate a pedicab on a hike and bike trail; or

(3)

after July 31, 2016, operate a trailer-type pedicab.

(G)

In addition to the requirements of Section 13-2-314 ( Non-Motorized Service Inspection Requirements ), a pedicab must meet the standards specified in this subsection.

(1)

A pedicab is limited to a maximum passenger capacity of 3, excluding the pedicab driver.

(2)

A pedicab must meet the following dimensional requirements:

(a)

a frame may not exceed 55 inches in width;

(b)

a bicycle tire must be at least 1.5 inches in width;

(c)

a trailer tire must be at least 1.5 inches in width; and

(d)

all wheels must have a minimum of 32 spokes and be securely mounted to the vehicle.

(3)

A pedicab must be maintained according to the following standards:

(a)

all spokes must be tight and none may be missing or broken;

(b)

floorboards must have non-skid contact surfaces without holes;

(c)

brakes must be capable of making a braked wheel stop within a distance determined by the department;

(d)

each pedicab trailer and single unit pedicab must be equipped with a disc brake system, or other reliable braking system, as approved by the department;

(e)

if a trailer is used, it must be attached to the bicycle in a manner approved by the department;

(f)

a pedicab must be equipped with a front white lamp visible from a distance of 500 feet;

(g)

a pedicab must be equipped with two red lights mounted on the rear in a manner approved by the department, and visible from a distance of 500 feet;

(h)

the passenger seat must be bench style and at least 17 inches deep. No passenger seat may face to the rear.

(i)

the pedicab paint may not be noticeably rusted, flaked, scraped, or faded. Paint repairs must be neat and inconspicuous;

(j)

any sharp edges or open tubes must be capped in a manner approved by the department; and

(k)

any additional requirements established by the department.

(4)

A trailer/pedicab unit must display the following:

(a)

a company name, telephone number, and individual unit number, with clear and legible lettering displayed in characters at least 1¾ inches in height and at least 1 inch in width, with colors contrasting the color of the pedicab;

(b)

a permit decal, valid annual city inspection decal, and sign limiting the passenger capacity to 3 passengers; and

(c)

a slow-moving vehicle emblem that:

(i)

complies with Section 547.108 of the Texas Transportation Code;

(ii)

is displayed on the rear of the pedicab and mounted in a manner approved by the department; and

(iii)

uses a reflective surface visible day or night from a distance of 500 feet.

(H)

The department may immediately require a vehicle to be removed from service for any violation of a safety-related requirement of this section. The department may require a permit holder to make any non-safety related repairs within 10 days. A vehicle must be re-inspected following completion of repairs required by the department under this section.

(I)

A pedicab passenger older than 6 years must sit on a seat in the pedicab and not in any other place on or in the pedicab, including the lap of another passenger. If a passenger refuses to comply with this requirement, a driver must stop the pedicab and ask the passenger to exit the pedicab.

Source: Ord. 20120412-021; Ord. No. 20141106-054, Pts. 11, 14, 11-17-14 ; Ord. No. 20141211-089, Pt. 2, 12-22-14 .