Arlington May Shut Down Entertainment District's Pedicab Operations

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ARLINGTON (CBSDFW.COM) - Efficient transportation or safety hazard? There is new debate about pedicabs roaming the streets around AT&T Stadium and Globe Life Park.

The people-powered taxi cabs could be shut down in Arlington, according to one of the options in a briefing council will hear Tuesday.

If that were to happen, pedicabs that normally roam streets in Arlington's Entertainment District could be shut down before baseball season. The city report cites safety concerns about their operation. Some pedicab drivers say they feel they've been targeted by people at city hall who don't want them here.

"We are considered the pests that are allowed to be here even though people love having us out here," said pedicab operator Michael Kahlig.

Kahlig is one of 40 pedicab operators in danger of losing his job.

All the drivers have reapplied for licenses which would be issued February 1 in a lottery for the 40 permits. The council could postpone that lottery.

"We are just in limbo until they tell us what's going to happen," Kahlig said.

People who live on the fringe of the entertainment district said they see how pedicab operations weaving through traffic might raise safety concerns.

"Any other way they try to go they're liable to get hit," said Rodney Smith. "So you got cars here and here when you got a little narrow way to go round the car you take that chance and you go."

A report to city council cites driving between cars as one of several safety concerns; including driving on sidewalks, overloading vehicles with too many passengers and operating in restricted areas. All concerns pedicab operators said can be addressed without shutting down their businesses.

"Just baseball alone, since 2009, pedicabs and carts have moved over 2 million people," said pedicab driver Patrick Peeraer. "We are not contributing to the congestion, we are minimizing the congestion by moving people in a quicker fashion. By getting them out of the venue area in a quicker and safer way."

Indeed, the report states there isn't any data showing the pedicabs cause congestion around events. The report also states there were two traffic accidents involving pedicabs in the past two years but no citations were issued.

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