By JOSH AULT
6 News Reporter
KNOXVILLE (WATE) - A new form of transportation may come to Knoxville soon. An ordinance to allow pedicabs, or rickshaws, is being presented to city council Tuesday.
Joni Ford, a Knoxville real estate agent, has already ordered five rickshaws. She's determined to help people get around downtown Knoxville easier.
"When I had my parents down here, they were having trouble getting from point A to point B, so that was my main goal to find a way they could enjoy downtown," Ford explained.
She was inspired to start a rickshaw business after purchasing an antique rickshaw at a local store.
Ford has worked closely with city officials to get the ordinance ready to be approved.
"Our first reaction, of course, was concern with safety, and traffic congestion, just wondering if this could work in Knoxville." said downtown coordinator Rick Emmett. "I believe it probably can."
If the ordinance is approved, the police department will be in charge of inspecting the rickshaws and making sure the drivers are licensed.
Ford does have some concerns about the proposed ordinance. Right now, it doesn't allow rickshaws to cross the Gay Street Bridge into South Knoxville.
She hopes to change that. "I just hope they extend the map coverage area to include 4th and Gill and to allow us to cross the river to access South Knoxville," she said.
Emmett says there may be room to amend the proposed ordinance. "We are trying to be fairly cautious as we go forward with this idea, to see how it works and to see how it functions in the city," he explained.
The five rickshaws Ford has ordered should arrive in Knoxville at the beginning of August.
She eventually wants to have 20. "I hope in five years, it's just kind of imbedded into our culture, and everybody is just looking for a rickshaw to get to that point A and that point B," she said.
It will be several weeks before a final rickshaw ordinance is approved. Ford hopes it will be approved by the time her first order of rickshaws arrives.
If the ordinance is approved, the police department will be in charge of inspecting the rickshaws and making sure the drivers are licensed.
