Pedicabs hit the streets

On 10th July 1998, Jonathan Edwards, former manager of Hackney City Farm, launched a human-powered taxi service to take customers and their shopping home from an Islington supermarket.

The press loved it, and the capital cost of the pedicabs was presumably paid for out of Sainsbury's PR budget. The revenue side of the accounts was up to Jonathan, and he hired the vehicles out to 'pilots' for a tenner a day. The pilots then charged for the ride according to a fixed fare sheet.

(If only they'd bring the food to the shop like this!)

Update 2003
The service proved reasonably successful and popular, but had a few setbacks including mechanical problems, a particularly bad winter and a new store manager who was not as enthusiastic as his predecessor. The pedicabs stopped running a couple of years after the launch. It was, though, a trailblazing project, and certainly helped to introduce Londoners to the idea of cycle taxis, which are now a ubiquitous sight in the West End.

"Ooh, what a nice young man!"

Jonathan is the driver in the cab on the left. He's saying, "Oy, no pictures! If my wife finds out..."

"Damn, red light."

"Right, off we go. Laters, people."

"Take us to your leader!"

For information on cycle taxis, and work bikes in general, see workbike.org.