Pedicabs on Capitol Hill

National Bike Summit 07

On Capitol Hill, the House offices and the Senate offices are on separate sides of the Capitol building. The distance between the two is about 1/2 a mile.

That’s not much, but when you’ve got a full day of meetings, tired feet, and not much time to spare, it’s nice to get a lift.

Taxis are out of the question, and most people don’t have bikes.

Enter free pedicab service, made possible by the League and Planet Bike.

National Bike Summit 07 National Bike Summit 07

Today the pedicabs were out in force, whisking advocates between the two buildings with style, energy and smiles.

National Bike Summit 07

Sam Gibson,
pedicab operator.

I grabbed a lift with 25 year-old Sam Gibson (check out this on-board view). He answered a job listing on Craigslist and is having fun with the assignment.

I would have learned more about him, but I was late for a meeting and taxis were blaring horns at us. Thanks for the lift Sam!

Check out a few more photos of Sam and pedicabs on Capitol Hill.

Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

Founder of BikePortland (in 2005). Father of three. North Portlander. Basketball lover. Car driver. If you have questions or feedback about this site or my work, contact me via email at maus.jonathan@gmail.com, or phone/text at 503-706-8804. Also, if you read and appreciate this site, please become a paying subscriber.

Thanks for reading.

BikePortland has served this community with independent community journalism since 2005. We rely on subscriptions from readers like you to survive. Your financial support is vital in keeping this valuable resource alive and well.

Please subscribe today to strengthen and expand our work.

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

2 Comments
oldest
newest most voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Kate
Kate
17 years ago

Great work Sam. I’m from NYC, in the thick of it with the regulations battle here. The country is watching and cities across the national have a hold of the story. You’re in the right place to show this country what a pedicab is capable of — and it all starts with human power!

Bill Stites
17 years ago

Hey Kate,

How’s it going with NYC regulations? I was a principle with Pedicabs of New York [PONY], started way back in ’93 with an optimistic group of Coop oriented folks. But when all the work needed to be done – much of it fixing up our used pedicabs from the 70’s [operated mostly in Hawaii] – it came down to George Bliss and I. I haven’t been back to NY in ages, but I understand they’re still rolling.