Pedicabs get OK to stretch across San Francisco

A new people-powered transportation choice has received approval to begin rolling into San Francisco neighborhoods.

Pedicabs for years have patrolled San Francisco’s waterfront and Financial District, but they’re not just for exhausted tourists anymore, reports Mission Local’s Rigoberto Hernandez.

A fresh competitor on the SF pedicab landcape, Cabrio Taxi, has obtained permits to expand operations to the Mission and Haight neighborhoods, Mission Local reports.

Despite the approval, Geoff Abraham, founder of Cabrio Taxi, tells SFBay his company has decided not to open a pedicab stand outside the waterfront area in 2013:

“I believe pedicabs can work in other parts of The City, but for various reasons, we are focusing this year on the waterfront operation.”

Video: Mission Local

If or when they do decide to expand their service, Cabrio’s stylish red pedicabs won’t help-far flung Sunsetters trek into downtown, but will be able to shuttle around residents of the Haight and Mission at a pace of about 8 to 12 minutes per mile.

At current rates of $10 per person per mile, a 2.7-mile ride from the Ferry Building to Haight and Fillmore for two would cost about $54 — not much less than a crappy used bike on Craigslist.

Pedicabs are currently allowed to convey passengers along certain fixed routes downtown and on the Embarcadero, though Abraham told SFBay there is some “gray area” in the regulations regarding destinations and routes.

Jesse Garnier

Jesse Garnier is the editor and founder of SFBay. A Mission District native, he also teaches journalism as associate professor at San Francisco State University.