Hat tip to Jacksonville Confidential for the following great story:
(http://img382.imageshack.us/img382/4264/pedicabxg8.jpg)
http://jaxbiketaxi.doodlekit.com/home
Downtown Jacksonville and Jacksonville Beach both have a new mode of transportation, Bike Taxi's. The rides are free and the drivers work on tips. You can find "pedicabs" at the following locations -
* Jacksonville Municipal Stadium
* Veteran's Memorial Arena
* Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville
* Prime Osborne Convention Center
* Jacksonville Landing
* Jacksonville Beach
this story was also featured at one of our very own posters' blog...BikeJax.
good news. i used one of these at a Jags game a couple of years ago. they were NOT only working for tips though like BikeJax reported.
This is definitely great news. I wonder how far they are willing to travel? Probably just the Northbank.
Quote from: Jason on June 10, 2008, 01:26:32 PM
This is definitely great news. I wonder how far they are willing to travel? Probably just the Northbank.
i think it is only for special events...here is the BikeJax info from Thursday...
Quote
Jax bike culture is getting a booster shot starting this weekend. The pedicabs of Jax Bike Taxi will be providing service at special events around downtown and the beaches.
David Rodgers is an active military transplant from San Diego and he enjoyed driving pedicabs while in San Diego during his off duty hours. Once transfered here and not finding any pedicab service in Jacksonville. David saw an opportunity to not only start a business but to also continue doing something he enjoyed.
Jax Bike Taxi will be kicking off rides at this weekends beaches Putt N' Crawl.
To see where you can find the Bike Taxi's for future events check out their calendar.
Like most pedicab services throughout the US. The rides are free and drivers work for tips. If you see these guys peddling around. Hop on board and show some support for bike culture in Jacksonville.
http://bikejax.blogspot.com/
Ahhh, ok. Hopefully this will prove to be a successful venture and we'll be seeing these pedi-cabs on a regular basis.
wow. In Austin there is no fare just tips. The tips work out to about $250.00 a week for the "driver." One kid said he makes more then all his friends and just a couple hours on Fri. , and Saturday.
Thanks Driven1 for the clarification of the origin of the story.
Also, Just clear things up. There are NO fares on the pedicabs of Jax Bike Taxi. Drivers work strictly for tips. If you see them out and about please support them.
And for the record. There have been a couple of other pedicabs services here in Jax in the past. And they did charge a fare + tip to riders. However, Jax Bike Taxi seems to be doing things right.
the peds also sell ads on the back of the cab. You guys selling space too ?
Quote from: gatorback on June 10, 2008, 07:48:47 PM
the peds also sell ads on the back of the cab. You guys selling space too ?
Hi Gatorback. I have no connection with Jax Bike Taxi. However, if you are interested or know anyone that may be interested in advertising with them. They do have a contact link on their home page.
http://jaxbiketaxi.doodlekit.com
It might be a little late but I would like to clear some things up. Jax Bike Taxi drivers do not charge a set fare but work of tips only. Other companies do come in for larger events at the stadium and might have a different policy. You can distinguish Jax Bike Taxi drivers by our t-shirt with logo and our yellow cabs. We operate in downtown for games and events only. We will give rides from The Landing to the Sports Complex and if you really want we will go over the Main Street Bridge (the time going up one side is made up on the downside trip!). We are now at the beach on Friday and Saturday nights usually staring around 9pm and on Sundays at 2pm. We do offer ad space on the body of our cabs and have a Rate Sheet on request. Visit us at www.jaxbiketaxi.com. Thanks.
Great info. Thanks for taking the time join up and post.
thanks for coming on JaxBikeTaxi and reiterating your policy!
We have been operating our bikes at Jax Beach for the past few weekends without any problem. Last night it all changed with a threat of being arrested if we didn't take our bikes and leave. We knew it had to be coming eventually because Jax Beach won't give us a Vehicle for Hire Permit because we are not motorized. So now we will be taking the bikes downtown to the Landing and Bay St. areas starting tonight to see how business will be Downtown Jacksonville. We'll be starting service around 9pm. If anyone has any suggestions of a better time to start or better location to hang out with our cabs please let me know.
Quote from: JaxBikeTaxi on July 12, 2008, 11:05:56 AM
We have been operating our bikes at Jax Beach for the past few weekends without any problem. Last night it all changed with a threat of being arrested if we didn't take our bikes and leave. We knew it had to be coming eventually because Jax Beach won't give us a Vehicle for Hire Permit because we are not motorized. So now we will be taking the bikes downtown to the Landing and Bay St. areas starting tonight to see how business will be Downtown Jacksonville. We'll be starting service around 9pm. If anyone has any suggestions of a better time to start or better location to hang out with our cabs please let me know.
this is absolutely ridiculous. could Jax Beach be ANY MORE backwards thinking? "we will not give you a permit because your vehicle does not burn fossil fuels, so no one could possibly want to hire you."
Quotebecause Jax Beach won't give us a Vehicle for Hire Permit because we are not motorized.
This needs press coverage.
[Hello...? TU staff lurkers? Here is a good story for you.] I can't believe they're giving you a hard time about bicycles. What...do they want a cut or something??
Quote from: thebrokenforum on July 12, 2008, 11:33:20 AM
Quotebecause Jax Beach won't give us a Vehicle for Hire Permit because we are not motorized.
This needs press coverage. [Hello...? TU staff lurkers? Here is a good story for you.] I can't believe they're giving you a hard time about bicycles. What...do they want a cut or something??
I have already talked with Jax Bike Taxi and am meeting with him this evening. I have also been in contact with a couple of other larger media friends and are at this moment working out how best to proceed with this in matter.
Hopefully we can get this issue in the open and find out why Jax Beach supersedes the State of Florida, Duval County and The City Of Jacksonville. All Of which have had no problem licensing and permitting Jax Bike Taxi.
It makes no sense whatsoever and sounds like someone's personal agenda. I hope this story gets out. If anything bike taxi service is an asset to the beaches that helps reduce the ongoing parking problem. Bike taxis are convenient and fun! I would love to see some quotes by city of Jax beach regarding why they are so opposed. Brought to the public I can't see anyone having a problem with bike taxis at the beach...except maybe cab drivers. Maybe the cab driver mafia has made threats...?
We started operations in Jax Beach during the Putt n' Crawl and we have had nothing but a positive response. We've given rides to bar hoppers, taken inebriated guests through the drive-thru late at night, and taken residents home. From a public saftey perspective we help along those that are too drunk to walk and we give residents a better option than having to walk home alone in the dark. We haven't had any issues with traffic since the beach is full of bicyclists anyway. We don't threaten the business of taxi cab companies because we are limited in the distance we are able to travel. If anything we help them out a little by allowing them to concentrate on longer distance runs and we even give their potential clients rides to the taxi staging area outside the Ocean Club. If the cab companies want something to worry about they should worry about the FREE Beaches Trolley that takes people from JTB to Atlantic Blvd. It seems that Jax Beach is not so much oblivious to the potential the area possesses but rather they are actively taking measures to avoid the change that growth inevitably brings. Ironically it's this growth that many residents and visitors would like to see.
I agree with you 100% and you make a great point about the trolley. So I have no clue as to why they won't permit you. The points you raise about safety are awesome. I mean, would they rather have a bike taxi taking people home or have people driving drunk? Seems pretty simple when you put it that way. I'm dying to know their reasoning.
I seriously hope you get some press with this and that you get your permits. Your service is a cool one and needed.
Any updates on this story?
I have started another thread to keep track of what is going on with the Jax Beaches issue to avoid having to repost it in different areas and keep everything in one spot. Thanks.
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/forum/index.php/topic,2753.0.html (http://www.metrojacksonville.com/forum/index.php/topic,2753.0.html)