The pedicab: a low-carbon solution for a night out drinking
What’s the carbon footprint of a night out barhopping? I’m not sure anyone’s actually measured that specifically, but a developing world staple seems to be catching on as a low-carbon transportation alternative for tourists and college students who’ve had a few too many: the pedicab.
I ran across a story about two young entrepreneurs starting a pedicab service in Muncie, Indiana, and dug into the topic a bit… and the concept seems to be catching on in bar districts around the country… and not just in major cities. Just a few of the locales in which you can catch a human-powered ride:
- West Hartford, Connecticut
- Louisville, Kentucky
- Savannah, Georgia
- Columbus, Ohio
- and, yes, St. Louis, Missouri
I’d be tempted to label use of rickshaws as a simple tourism gimmick if it wasn’t spreading so far and wide. A sign of wider consciousness about greenhouse gas emissions? A business model with a low barrier to entry? Or just greenish fun with no real substantive impact? Love to hear what you think… If you’re looking to catch a pedicab, the International Bicycle Fund keeps a relatively well-updated list of services.
MORE FROM SUSTAINABLOG:
- Reclaiming the streets with urban transportation alternatives to the car
- Want to pedal yourself? Check out our selection of road bikes from Fuji
Image credit: Pacifica Pedicabs at Flickr under a Creative Commons license
