Taxi Driver Online

Dundee's first ever rickshaw taxi will be hitting the city's streets in just over two weeks' time.



Cycling entrepreneur Adam Giarek has been granted an official licence from the city council and is gearing up to pedal his first customers around Dundee in his futuristic looking rickshaw next month.

Despite objections from some taxi unions, Adam got the go-ahead from councillors two weeks ago.

He is currently finalising preparations and hopes to have a second driver when his alternative taxi service, Scottish Eco-Taxis, launches on Friday, July 4.

We met up with the 23-year-old, from Poland, for a chat about the details and take a closer look at his rickshaw.

Inspired by the many rickshaw taxis in London, Adam has been campaigning since March this year to be first driver (or is that rider?) in Dundee.

And, despite a few minor setbacks, he is very close to seeing his vision realised after councillors approved the plans earlier this month.

"The meeting itself was really fantastic," said Adam.

"There weren't any good arguments, I got my licence and it only took about an hour.

"Everything is now in agreement and my own licence will be active from Friday, July 4, but hopefully on that date I will actually have two rickshaws on the streets of Dundee: myself and another driver.

"At the moment, we are waiting on a licence for him but if everything is as it should be we will soon have two rickshaws in Dundee."

"I've got already an area in mind," continues Adam.

"I call it the 'green area' and it will move basically from the city, down by the river and up the Perth Road - mostly because there’s no hills there.

"In terms of customers, we want to try and cooperate with regular hotels and restaurants because I think the rickshaws will be a fun kind of way to get about town.

"So while they are sort of for tourists, they really don't have to be - I was at the Montrose Festival a couple of weeks ago people were really interested.

"Usually one person will come up to you, ask a few questions and they might think it’s a little funny but after that first person I was very busy all day - so I hope it’s the same in Dundee.

"I can't guarantee they will be popular but I hope so and I'm very excited."

With a big seating area in the back, the rickshaws can comfortably accommodate three people and offer a rather scenic view even from inside the cab (see pictures below).

Equipped with front suspension, a complex gear system, 12 LED lights and even an electronic buzzer, the rickshaws are a step towards a cleaner, more environmental transport service in Dundee.

But they weigh in at 85kg just by themselves, so Adam will certainly have to be in shape to keep his business moving in the right direction.

source: http://dundee.stv.tv/articles/279453-du ... ost=125841

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

You can get them with battery assist now with a 30 mile range just using that

Battery assisted, sounds like a quality piece of kit, and just the job for those going local and beyond. Actually, this rickshaw looks the business for the Scottish weather but needs a fairing for the rider.

Maybe, electric rickshaws are the way forward.

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All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others.
George Orwell, "Animal Farm"

Possibly they could Skull, and they could use the Asda free charging points or anywhere else that has them.

Have I put a bee in your bonnet???????????
call Skull for the fastest rickshaw in Edinburgh
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5mi7XM40Mw
there are several

They're all over Edinburgh these things absolute fvcking nuisance and a danger, all you need is a street traders licence and off you go no tax no insurance and not many overheads and unregulated ,charging wtf they like, actually sounds good.

That's what Edinburgh needs, a whole fleet of battery assisted rickshaws with charging points all over the city. Oh that and the tram...

_________________
All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others.
George Orwell, "Animal Farm"

as part of the independence deal you could have the entire England football squad act as human horses for the next six months pulling the rickshaws

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH CAPT YOUR SHOWING YER FRUSTRATION.................WOT DID YER EXPECT FROM THAT SHOWER OF PRIMA DONNAS

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All posts by this contributor are made in a strictly personal capacity

I AM PROUD TO BE A CITIZEN NOBODY'S SUBJECT http://www.republic.org.u

F88K EM ALL WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND

BOOZE BOOZE BOOZE

Delayed but not derailed: 'Dundee will get rickshaws'




About a month ago it was announced that Dundee would have its first rickshaw service up and running by the first week of July.

That deadline has come and gone and there are still no signs of rickshaws in the city's streets.

But the wheels haven’t fallen off the project just yet - the rickshaws are due to scoot the first customers about town by next Monday, Scottish Eco Taxis owner Adam Gierek said.

“I’ve had my license and been ready to go from the fourth of July,” Adam said.

“Basically I was told by the guys who were running my Kickstarter funding project that I needed to wait for a letter of confirmation before I could get up and running.

“I’ve spoken to my manager and she says that I will definitely get the letter by the end of this week so if it's before Friday then I could start then. If not then I will start on Monday.

“It’s a little frustrating because I wanted to be out, but it shouldn’t be a problem in the long run.”

The idea to set up Dundee's first rickshaw service, since named Scottish Eco Taxis, came after Adam visited London where more than 150 rickshaw drivers currently operate.

Once the idea was put out there earlier this year, most of the Dundee people we spoke to welcomed the idea of pedal-powered three-wheelers in the city centre.

Despite the popularity, the rickshaws were delayed after protests from a taxi union caused plans to be deferred.

This time, the delay is purely a formality.

"I don't want to do anything that the company funding me don't want me to do," Adam, who is from Poland, explained.

"They gave me the £1000 grant in funding that got me started and they will send me a letter this week.

"It should all be fine, I think it's just a case of waiting for the money to come in and I've been all over the city centre this week trying to advertise the business.

"If you go into any city centre pub you should be able to see my flyers."

Adam's company, Scottish Eco Taxis, initially planned to launch with two drivers, but Adam said he would now be the only driver until mid-August.

"We have to wait 28 days for the second driver to get his licence," he continued.

"So for the time-being it will be just me riding the rickshaw, but we are hoping that the other driver will be on the streets by mid -August."

http://dundee.stv.tv/articles/282735-ad ... ost=142367

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin