Arlington worries that pedicabs around Cowboys Stadium are unsafe

By SUSAN SCHROCK

sschrock@star-telegram.com

ARLINGTON — Rex Lee is one of dozens of pedicab drivers who have rolled into the city’s entertainment district, hoping to cash in on Cowboys Stadium by giving rides to fans walking to and from cheaper, but distant, parking lots.

During last week’s U2 concert, Lee, a driver with Pedal Express of Houston, parked near Nolan Ryan Expressway and Road to Six Flags, about a mile northeast of the $1.2 billion stadium.

"The stadium is very lucrative," Lee said. "Any big event like this works for pedicabs when people have to walk a long ways. It’s always a good venue for us."

Business may be good, but some city officials worry that the pedal-powered vehicles could create traffic or public-safety problems. Unlike Dallas or Fort Worth, Arlington has never permitted pedicabs, and the City Council is now considering whether to allow them to stay.

"We have pedicabs out there operating in an unregulated environment. We have concerns about traffic congestion and public safety that have to be counterbalanced with the service they are providing," Deputy City Manager Trey Yelverton said. "We want to make sure it’s a safe experience for our guests."

If council decides to allow pedicabs, an ordinance regulating their operation in the entertainment district could be passed as early as next month, he said.

Besides requiring permits and a criminal background check on drivers, as is required of taxicab drivers, Arlington could cap the number of pedicabs during stadium events and limit where and when they can operate.

"The problem we’re seeing is the pedicabs are not obeying any traffic laws at all," Arlington Mayor Robert Cluck said. "They are going the wrong way; some of them are running red lights. If we can regulate them where they would be safe, I’d be OK with that. If we can’t control that, I’m not OK with it at all."

Ready to roll

Pedicabs work only for tips, and some drivers said they can make $200 or more per event.

Lee said his tips range from $5 to $40, depending on how far he takes passengers and how much they enjoyed the experience.

"Kids just love it," Lee said. "The more you entertain them, the more money you make. It’s more entertainment than transportation."

Brian Becksfort, with Ready 2 Roll of Houston, said most of his experiences in his nine years as a pedicab driver have been pleasant. He said he typically works the bar areas in downtown Houston or travels with his company to work sporting events or concerts at major cities across the state. The U2 concert was his second event at Cowboys Stadium.

Becksfort said it will take a while for people to learn how pedicabs operate.

"I’ve had people run off or they give you a quarter," he said. "It doesn’t happen very often, but it does happen. People take advantage of you."

Yelverton said the city will talk with pedicab operators and review other cities’ regulations when drafting an ordinance. If allowed, pedicabs will likely be allowed only on days of events to minimize their interaction with everyday traffic, Yelverton said.

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