Scottsdale Enacts Regulations After Serious Pedicab Accident

SCOTTSDALE, AZ, June 14, 2013

In January 2013, two men in their early 20s who had come to the Phoenix area for the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl decided to take a pedicab back to their hotel. As their driver pedaled his way from a downtown Scottsdale bar to the men's hotel, a car with a driver who was likely drinking smashed into the pedicab. The two men received serious injuries. One received a severe head injury, the other a spine injury.

The incident highlighted a potential problem with pedicabs. In some areas in the Phoenix metro, these popular transportation options are unregulated. At the time of the accident, Scottsdale city regulations did not require pedicabs to have licensed drivers or be covered by insurance. Unlike other forms of commercial passenger transportation such as taxis and buses, pedicabs were required to follow only the general rules of the road.

New Regulations Require Driver's Licenses And Insurance

The lack of regulation became an issue as pedicabs became increasingly common in the Valley. They can be found around bars in downtown Phoenix, Tempe and Scottsdale and are especially popular during and after events. Without regulations in place, pedicab passengers could be at risk of a commercial vehicle accident with an inadequately trained driver, an improperly maintained vehicle and an operator that might not have enough insurance to cover the damages.

Although the pedicab driver was not cited for the accident, Scottsdale city officials responded by enacting new city laws for pedicab drivers. The ordinance passed several months after the January accident and applies specifically to pedicabs, which are generally three-wheeled bicycles with a cab in the back to carry passengers.

The new regulations require:

- Owners to maintain insurance coverage for up to $1 million per occurrence and $2 million annually
- Pedicabs to be free of rust, ripped upholstery or exposed, unpainted wood
- Pedicabs to maintain specific front and rear lights
- Pedicabs to have brakes
- Operators to have driver's licenses
- Operators to stay off roads that have a speed limit of 35 mph or greater and no bike lane. In addition, police can prohibit pedicabs from other areas.

Phoenix already had pedicab regulations. Many of the provisions are similar, including insurance requirements, driver's license requirements, brakes, and avoiding roads with a speed limit of 35 mph or greater. In a news story about the pedicab accident, a Tempe police officer said that pedicabs are treated similarly to motor vehicles in his city and that they are required to have reflectors and a front headlight.

Pedicab Regulations Enacted In Other Cities

The Phoenix area is not alone in grappling with how to deal with pedicabs. In recent years, pedicabs have become popular in cities across the United States, and city officials have sought to protect riders with regulations. In New York City, regulations of pedicabs initially stalled. The city moved forward with pedicab regulations in 2009, after a driver and two passengers were injured in a taxi accident.

If you have been injured by a pedicab or in a car accident, an experienced motor vehicle accident attorney can advise you of your options and help you seek compensation for your damages.

Knapp & Roberts provides experienced and caring representation for people who have been injured in motor vehicle accidents, including commercial vehicle accidents. We serve people in Phoenix and other areas of Arizona. For more information, call 480-991-7677 or visit www.krattorneysautoaccident.com.