City Council approves plans for pedal cabs, says ‘no’ to scooters

The city of Columbus will start regulating pedal cabs under an ordinance that received initial approval from Columbus City Council Tuesday night. Pedal cabs are used to shuttle paying passengers on a fixed route. They are powered by a single pilot and an electric motor.

The pedal cab proposal would require a $200 per pedal cab licensing fee, proof of insurance and a check of the criminal backgrounds of operators and company officials. Mary Ferdon, the city’s director of administration, explained that the ordinance requires any pedal cab operator to register each vehicle with the Office of Community Development.

The ordinance is also banning commercial rental scooter operations in the city until such time as officials come up with rules covering their use.

Many larger cities have struggled with a surge of interest by businesses in providing the rental scooters to tourists and others. Issues in other cities have focused on the safety of the scooters, their use on sidewalks and the clutter they bring. Most scooter companies allow the devices to be abandoned once they reach their destination and until they are rented by another customer. City leaders in Nashville, TN are considering banning them outright after a man on a scooter was struck and killed by a motorist.

Councilman Frank Miller stresses that the ordinance doesn’t ban personal use of these scooters. Council members expressed concerns about safety and clutter.

Miller stresses that the ordinance doesn’t ban personal use of these scooters.

Council will consider finalizing the ordinance at its July 16th meeting.