Gone are the days of pedicabs blaring Top 40 hits as they cruise through downtown San Diego traffic, as the City Council on Monday approved amendments that would, among other things, ban the equipment amplified sounds in human-powered taxis.

“Pedicabs can be a fun, climate-friendly mode of transportation,” said Councilman Stephen Whitburn, who proposed the amendments and represents council District 3, which includes downtown. “Many pedicab drivers operate within existing guidelines. But too many people don’t do it. »

The city code changes passed Monday also require pedicab operators or drivers to provide an agreed-upon price to customers before the ride and offer an itemized receipt, as well as more prominently display fares and licenses of pedicabs, as well as the extension of liability to pedicab owners. .

Following hundreds of complaints received by Whitburn’s office from residents, business owners and tourists, the council was clear in its actions, approving the amendments 8-0.

Many pedicabs play music when searching for fares or when taking rides. A law already existed prohibiting pedicabs – which have been regulated by the city since 2000 – from playing music or other noises audible more than 15 meters away. However, that distance makes enforcement more difficult, “because officers must determine whether a pedicab is located less or more than 50 feet away,” a city staff report says.

A diverse group commented on the proposed item Monday, including both pedicab owners and operators, who felt that not only would it negatively impact their livelihoods, but they were not the only ones due to loud music downtown. Bars and nightclubs also play music during quiet hours, but they are more strictly regulated when it comes to decibel levels.

Another aspect addressed by the council involves a common bait-and-switch tactic in which a pedicab operator tells a group of potential passengers that their trip will cost a certain rate. Then, after the ride, the operator will claim that the fare discussed was actually a per person cost, not the cost for all passengers.

According to Whitburn’s office, even when passengers reluctantly pay the bill, the operator may add a “tip” without the passengers’ consent or knowledge. The proposed ordinance aims to combat this scam by requiring operators to provide passengers with “a written and dated invoice that includes the name or trade name of the pedicab operator, the agreed rate per passenger, and the total rate agreed for all passengers, due on arrival at the airport. the destination. »

Most pedicab operators are independent contractors for the business owners.

The owner of a pedicab company proposed an intermediate solution: ban loudspeakers on pedicabs between 10 p.m. and 10 a.m. on weekdays and between 11 p.m. and 10 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. This proposal fell on ears deafened by dozens of noisy pedicabs.

“For those frustrated by this today, look at your colleagues,” said Council President Pro Tempore Joe LaCava, who said there are too many businesses or drivers flouting existing orders and negatively affected the standard of living of city center residents.

Monday’s decision will bring the city of San Diego closer to the port, which recently adopted similar guidelines for pedicabs.

Updated at 3:39 p.m. Monday October 14, 2024