Google Trail View

We're all familiar with Google's Street view. Well, to capture the "car-free roadways" of Europe they attached their camera to a tricycle. Maybe we can get them to bring it back here for Google Trail View.

Comments

[dc.brewer]

Well, I can tell you that the "trail view" along the Northwest Branch this morning looked a lot more like a river view! The trail was completely flooded out and impassable north of West Hyattsville. Washcycle, indeed!

[Eric_W.]

That would be so cool! Let's hope it'll make it here.

Do you think the pedicabbies would bike these things just for tips? ;-)

[Ron Alford]

An 18 stone (252 lb) trike? Surely they're including the rider? If not, that's one heck of a bike to haul up a hill!

[washcycle]

The google camera would have to be a good tipper.
We took a pedicab 20 blocks back from a baseball game recently and tipped the guy more than we'd pay for a regular taxi (and it took longer) and he - very politely - informed us that we had undertipped. I'm not sure why I would pay more to go slower. Also, maybe they should define and post rates? It places you in the uncomfortable position where you're more likely to under pay or over pay than correctly pay. I don't want to have to be an expert on pedicab rates and mileage to use the service.

[Eric_W.]

I agree washcycle. It must be weird to pay more than you would have for a cab and then hear that you are a cheapskate. Especially as a bona fide bike friend.

How can a pedicab which supposdedly needs no license and apparently pays no taxes (we had that discussion before) need more money than a cab?

Cabs have arguably a lot more obligations to carry, such as licenses, gas and maintenance which is more expensive for cars than for bikes. I assume for this argument that pedicabbies and regular cabbies pay the same to their franchise holder or whatever we want to call the boss.

[Catherine]

I have wondered about that, too. The only time I took one was in New York and we agreed on a fare beforehand and it was significantly higher than a car taxi would have been, but I had time to burn (my host's plane was delayed and I had nowhere to go) and felt like seeing a bit of the city by bike.

When it came time to pay, I really wasn't sure how to handle the tip situation at all--we had an agreed upon price, separate from a meter so in theory we were both on board for the price of the trip--but is a tip still expected? I have him a small tip to be on the safe side but it left me feeling very weird about the whole thing.

[Tom]

The reason a pedicab has to charge more per mile is because it takes more time. A cab with a gasoline engine can move more people more efficiently than a human powered cab. Pedi cabs are not supposed to make economic sesnse. You do it because you are a tourist and want to throw money away.

[ontarioroader]

As we discussed on here before, the whole pedicab thing seems really shady. I spoke with a pedicab rider/driver last week and he admitted the whole thing was pretty much "under the table cash". He said some folks really shaft him on payment, but he makes it up by 'guilting' others into paying more. Said it was all 'part of the game and what makes it fun'. Sounds like a hassle to me, but he seemed to enjoy it, games and all.