Geneva council considers allowing pedicab service

Pedicabs may be tooling around downtown Geneva this summer.

The Geneva city council is inclined to allow the human-powered bicycle-based vehicles on a trial basis. It discussed the matter at committee of the whole meeting last week and is due to take a formal vote Monday.

Green Street Pedicabs of Naperville expressed interest in serving Geneva last summer, and staff began work on the city’s licensing laws. However, that firm has not asked for a license.

But another firm, Prairie State Pedicabs, is interested. David Bus, of Batavia Township, began the service last summer, and gave rides at Festival of the Vine before police stopped him because he did not have a permit.

Bus plans to try offering pedicab service in the evenings, and as weather permits, in the downtown area and on the Fox River Trail. He will also promote it for weddings and other special occasions.

Under the proposed licensing law, pedicabs would not be allowed on state or county highways that run through Geneva, including Routes 25, 31 and 38, Kirk and Randall roads and Fabyan Parkway.

Bus said he started the service as a way to get in shape. However, he will also hire extra help in the summer, likely college students, he said.

Under the proposed licensing law, pedicab operators would have to provide proof of liability insurance. The annual fee would be $100 per company, plus $20 per pedicab. The trial period would be May 1 to Dec. 31. The city would then evaluate issues such as passenger loading and unloading, and whether the pedicabs caused parking loss, before deciding in February whether to allow them permanently.

Naperville has allowed pedicabs for the last two years, according to a Geneva memo.