The City Council voted unanimously today to create a series of parking zones for pedicabs in downtown San Diego where passengers can load and unload safely and operators can temporarily park the three-wheeled, pedal-driven vehicles.
The pedicab parking areas, similar to taxi stands, will be located at red curb zones and won't take up parking spaces.
Establishment of the zones follows complaints by downtown business owners that pedicab operators were taking up metered parking spaces that could be used by customers, especially in the Gaslamp Quarter.
"It does offer an opportunity for the pedicab operators to sit in a place that is defined and not be clustered in areas where they are coming into conflict with pedestrians and other traffic," said Councilwoman Marti Emerald.
City staff told the council they are working to determine the exact locations of the pedicab parking areas.
It will cost $160 to install each pedicab parking zone and put up signs, according to city staff. The cost will be built into the price of a pedicab operator permit.
The establishment of the parking zones follows the approval of an ordinance by the City Council in September that set tough regulations for pedicab operations in San Diego.
