The rider stopped for a chat. He'd been brought in for an event. He has ridden rickshaws all over the country and we got to discussing the differences in attitudes towards cycling and rickshaws between Manchester and Bristol. Needless to say he was far less pleased about conditions for cycling Manchester in Manchester than Bristol.
Sadly Manchester City Council has continually refused to license pedicabs or rickshaws to operate as taxis or private hire in Manchester in contrast to other cities. This is to the detrement of the city's environment which is degraded by the air pollution and danger from the excessive number of taxis and private hire vehicles in operation.
The rickshaws were operating a complementary service for the CHI Housing event that was being held at Manchester Central.
Don't forget the event Rickshaws are out the front for tours #CIHhousing15 pic.twitter.com/hyUVwOlX0z— CIH Housing 2015 (@CIH_Housing2015) June 23, 2015Staff and customers at @citywesthousing and @villageshousing enjoying our rickshaws at @CIH_Housing2015! pic.twitter.com/xDh8PNCKg2
— ForViva (@forviva_group) June 25, 2015
I got a pedicab from the West End to Euston the other day during a day-trip to London. Not the cheapest option*, but the rider did an amazing job of politely negotiating her way through an environment totally inhospitable to that mode of transport, and for my daughter it was one of the highlights of the day.
ReplyDeleteAgain, Manchester talks the (sustainability) talk, but on the streets, where it counts, the council is a failure.
*the cheapest option would have been walking, and taking three times longer.
what happened since then? Have the council changed their minds? What were the reasons they gave for turning down the licences?
ReplyDelete