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This Instructable will explain how I've built my own pedicab, as well as provide guidance for others who want to build a better one. Total cost was ~$300 + my own labor, and this is close to the equivalent of a model commercially available for $1995.
I currently use my pedicab in Austin, Texas. As of 9/8/08, it's fully licensed by the city of Austin. Woohoo!
Before we get started, let's define pedicab:
-Check out the Wikipedia articlefor an overview
-Look at Pedaltek's tow-behindfor a good example of the trailer type I built
-Read the comments on my Make posts describing the experience so far (hereas well as here) to hear engineering concerns commenters more intelligent than I have raised
I currently use my pedicab in Austin, Texas. As of 9/8/08, it's fully licensed by the city of Austin. Woohoo!
Before we get started, let's define pedicab:
-Check out the Wikipedia articlefor an overview
-Look at Pedaltek's tow-behindfor a good example of the trailer type I built
-Read the comments on my Make posts describing the experience so far (hereas well as here) to hear engineering concerns commenters more intelligent than I have raised
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Signing UpStep 1Plan and Experience
I learned from experience that this project is a bit too large to tackle without planning. So, start by sorting out exactly what you want to build. Be sure and ask yourself these and other questions:
-What requirements (insurance, permit, etc.) does your local government impose for pedicab companies?
-What's the terrain like in the area you'd like to serve? If there's a mega-hill separating the only 2 popular bars in town, that could be a problem...
-What should you learn before undertaking a project of this size? How much easier would welding skills, etc. make your project?
-Do you have the time and energy to invest in building this?
-Are you confident enough in your abilities at making things to strap unsuspecting bystanders onto your creation before darting into traffic?
And, it's a very good idea to consider gaining some riding experience for another pedicab service before endeavoring to create your own. This isn't like normal biking, no matter how quick you might be on your chosen style of cycle...
-What requirements (insurance, permit, etc.) does your local government impose for pedicab companies?
-What's the terrain like in the area you'd like to serve? If there's a mega-hill separating the only 2 popular bars in town, that could be a problem...
-What should you learn before undertaking a project of this size? How much easier would welding skills, etc. make your project?
-Do you have the time and energy to invest in building this?
-Are you confident enough in your abilities at making things to strap unsuspecting bystanders onto your creation before darting into traffic?
And, it's a very good idea to consider gaining some riding experience for another pedicab service before endeavoring to create your own. This isn't like normal biking, no matter how quick you might be on your chosen style of cycle...
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Of course a bolt may snap in a high force collision. Since a pedicab does not go very fast to begin with, it won't be because the cab is unsafe, but because the car/truck crashing into them is at fault. People have the mistaken impression that pedicabs are meant to be as safe as cars. Bzzt! Wrong answer! But thanks for playing.
Pedicabs are meant to be light, enviromentally friendly, comfy alternatives to motorized taxis or walking. Nothing more, nothing less, aside from making sure the cab can withstand the day-to-day usage of it's driver and riders. *NO* pedicab can withstand a 'high force' collision.
That's like saying bicycle helmets are designed to protect you from death. Below 20kph you'll likely fall on your hands and knees. Above 20 kph (like being hit by a car), no cycle helmet in the world is designed to save you. It comes down to skill of the rider or sheer luck of survivability.
"...this is an accident waiting to happen..." if so, then keep the cars off the streets in town! :-)
That's garbage. It's all the matter of choosing the proper grade hardware. Obviously you've never heard of the SAE J429 standard, grade 0 to 8, for bolts.
Bolts hold wheels on to automotive axles for thousands of miles bouncing over dirt roads without shearing off. They hold leaf springs on to frames while resisting hundreds of ft-lbs of shearing force during hard acceleration or deceleration. They hold girders together with millions of tons pressing down on them.
I believe most cars are also held together with nuts and bolts.
We checked into building a micro car and you can not get a license if it is deemed unstable. I would think same rule applies to pedicabs.
Look people, pedicabs in any shape are not *deathtraps* if the go slow and are built strong. The author, in making his own trailer pedicab, has built something that has obviously stood the test of time, hasn't maimed anyone, and with proper care will probably keep him healthy with a pocketful of extra cash each week for years to come.
We should be congratulating his creativeness, not degrade him. You killjoys do little more than pump more CO2 into the atmosphere. I suspect a majority of the complainers either don't cycle, never actually tried to build something like this, or just prefer to jump on the bandwagon because it's not 'pretty looking'.
One point of contention: the Velotaxi should not be the 'gold standard' - yes it looks nice, is quite comfy, but it is fraught with mechanical issues and requires a motor to get the most out of it due to it's heavy weight. Perhaps consider the Brox pedicab as a viable replacement for the future. It would not hurt to copy and spread that style of cab around the world.
Good luck and drive safe!
-jimm