Marietta OKs pedicabs

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By Ralph Ellis

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Pedicabs, the modern-day version of the rickshaw, will hit the streets in a second metro Atlanta city.

Hyosub Shin / hshin@ajc.com Pedicabs were introduced in Decatur last summer. Here, Mike Gerke (left), owner/operator of Easy Living Pedicabs, helps customers Sou Phommavongsa, of Duluth, and her daughter Sumalee Rondolph, 4, to get off the pedicab in Decatur.

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The Marietta City Council approved an ordinance Wednesday that allows pedicabs to operate in certain areas of the Cobb County city.

Cassandra Buckalew, a co-owner of the Historic Marietta Trolley Co., said she plans to put two pedicabs on the street in April, when the weather is warmer and more people circulate around the city square.

She foresees two kinds of customers: people wanting a quick, fun trip around Marietta and in-town residents who don’t want to battle traffic when attending a downtown event, such as a concert on the square.

“My goal is to have them available as many hours as possible in the beginning to see where the need is,” she said.

Pedicabs are common in Southeast Asian cities and can be found in larger American cities. Savannah allows pedicabs.

In metro Atlanta, only one other city authorizes these adult-size tricycles with attached seats for passengers.

Decatur gave Mike Gerke a six-month trial period to operate Easy Living Pedicabs. At the end of the year the city will decide how to move ahead with an ordinance or a license.

Lyn Menne, Decatur's assistant city manager, said the pedicab has been well-received.

“It’s a good fit to get people out of their cars,” she said.

Gerke usually charges $5 for a ride and $10 for a tour of the town. People in Decatur seem to be getting used to the idea of pedicabs, he said.

“A huge part of my business is families walking out for dinner or socializing and they don’t want to walk back,” he said.