Pedicabs

I’m a member of the Transportation Licensing Commission which regulates, among other things, scooter/bike share and pedicabs. TLC has a rule that pedicabs are not to use bike lanes.  AFAIK there is no other legal prescription against them  using a bike lane. They are electric and I think meet the definition of an e-bike in the state law (TCA 55-8-301).  Some in the industry want the TLC to change it’s rule.  

Any thoughts on this issue?

It’s being discussed on the Nashville Cyclist reddit group. The pro and cons are listed below as presented on Reddit.

https://www.reddit.com/r/nashvillecyclists/comments/1srb3ex/pedicabs/

Carey Rogers

Should pedicabs be allowed in Nashville's bike lanes? Looking for honest community feedback

Not gonna lie, I feel a little exposed posting this, Reddit can go sideways fast, but I was encouraged to come here for real community input, so here we go.

The case for it:

Pedicab drivers and passengers are genuinely safer out of traffic. Fighting for lane space in a me and my truck owns this road state is dangerous.

Pedicabs are 48" wide and fit within standard bike lanes (most are 4ft+).

Nashville's bike community is small, more consistent bike lane activity actually helps drivers notice and respect the lanes.

Pedicabs are built from ~90% bicycle components and travel at bike speeds.

Delivery robots are already permitted in bike lanes. Shouldn't we extend the same access to human-powered vehicles carrying real people?

Pedicab operators are sober, licensed, and trained. That's more than you can say for most scooter riders at midnight on Broadway.

The case against:

Some cyclists feel bike lanes should be bikes only, full stop.

Pedicabs are wider than a standard bicycle and could create bottlenecks, especially in high-traffic areas.

A loaded pedicab carrying passengers may move slower than cyclists, causing frustration and unsafe passing situations.

Unlike solo cyclists, pedicabs are commercial vehicles, mixing commerce and commuting infrastructure raises legitimate questions about who the lane is really for.

One data point worth considering:

In a study of 27 cities, only ONE , NYC, bans pedicabs from the bike lane. And NYC has 620,000 daily bike trips, 840 pedicabs, 1,571 miles of bike lanes, and a world-class cycling culture. Nashville has a bikeability score of 30/100, no published bike trip data, and is still building its infrastructure. There are only 42 permitted pedicabs in all of Nashville, the idea that they would meaningfully compete with cyclists for lane space doesn't really hold up. What works as a restriction in the most bike-saturated city in America probably shouldn't be the default for a city still finding its footing.

Genuinely curious what people think. Be cool.