You Shall Know Our Velo City

Clean and green pedi-cabs are poised to run amok in Philadelphia.

by A.D. Amorosi

WHEEL WORLD: "Pedi-cabs" and "velo-taxis" can already be hailed in 17 countries.

"Plastics." That's the future Mr. McGuire told The Graduate about back in 1967.

Here in the future, I can't help but think of that scene when enviro-entrepreneur Ronn Ash says the words "velo-parkcabs."

It doesn't have the same ring, but these passenger bicycles could be the future of green transportation in Philadelphia, with weary pedestrians hailing them when they need a lift. For example, check out the sleek "City Cruiser" — a motor-assisted electric-powered mountain bike with a cabin for adults, kids and their packages.

"As an intelligent alternative, this model for urban mobility encourages people to evaluate their carbon footprint," says Ash of this vehicle, designed and manufactured by the kfpn Gmbh company of Germany. "They're pretty awesome in every way."

"Pedi-cabs" and "velo-taxis" can already be hailed in 17 countries. The idea is to combat traffic congestion, parking problems, emission damages and skyrocketing gas prices while providing advertisers a moving platform other than buses.

Spying it fleetingly as I did at the Please Touch Museum launch in October 2008 ("Mayor Nutter and [Please Touch head] Nancy Kolb were the very first passengers," says Ash) didn't prepare me for seeing it up close or pedaling the thing.

It's light, easy on the eyes and puts out zero emissions. The vehicle's main components are a recyclable polyethylene cabin, a heavy duty-steel frame and a digitally controlled electric propulsion system. Driver and passengers are well-protected inside the cabin unlike the standard uncovered rickshaw-style pedi-cab. The three-wheeled velo weighs about 350 pounds (sturdy, but don't let a Hummer hit it), stands at about 7 feet tall, and when its twist-grip handlebars are cranked to full capacity (they operate the motor), the velo can reach a speed of about 9 miles an hour.

Ash is a Southwest Philly native who, as a musician, played with Robert Hazard and John Doe (a band formed with two original members of the Hooters). By the late '80s, he had moved to Boston, married and was working for Pitney Bowes; by the early 90s he was producing video art projects in New York City. He left the U.S. in 1992 and traveled throughout Morocco and Spain performing a multimedia piece with an Italian artist. The guy was a lodger.

Ash even wound up making lodging his living when he returned to Philly. He studied visual anthropology at Temple while managing Chamounix Mansion in West Fairmount Park. He worked with Hostelling International to get the battered but elegant mansion on the hostelling map and connected to the community.

He started the ucityhostel — utilizing unused dorm spaces at University of Penn as an affordable summer seasonal hostel after classes let out in 2008. That's when he finalized his velo-park research. This was before the spike in gas prices. "I wanted then to work towards making Philly a more green and bike-friendly city," says Ash, who notes the advantage of Philly's European design and relatively flat terrain.

Ash has spoken with the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation and the Philadelphia Film Festival people to discuss sponsored rides and to the Philadelphia Commercial Development Corporation (PCDC) and the Philadelphia Development Partnership for funding and to connect with neighborhood business associations. While nothing's been signed, Ash is happy with the ongoing conversations.

He'd like to keep the advertising local — there are several panels along the velo's frame with its back available for plasma screens — but knows he might need to sell spaces to corporate advertisers, too.

If the velo is sponsored, the ride could end up being free. "This is how it works in Toronto's downtown core," says Ash. Local civic and commercial organizations can sponsor velo rides in the name of self-advertising.

If the city must, it can issue permits and velos can be used as a taxi service with fares regulated.

"I'm somewhat confident that the velos can operate as a sightseeing vehicle." While the fare for taxi service haven't been determined, Ash figures it will eventually be "more than SEPTA but less than a taxi."

Along with creating green jobs, velos can serve in neighborhoods that have little and limited taxi service — like Fishtown or throughout North Philly. "I spoke with the president of Mt. Airy Business Association yesterday — and from that meeting and the reaction from the PCDC — I sense the neighborhoods will be eager to see the velos in their area."

Ash will unveil his first six sponsored or sightseeing vehicles in April — the paid taxi idea is still in the exploratory stages.

All this velo talk seems like a win/win — for a greener Philly, a biker Philly. What is Ash's evil master plan? There is none. When he says calmly that working is not just about making money but having the feeling he's contributing to something through acting meaningfully I can't help but look at him sideways. Sometimes idealists scare me.

"Hey, both velo-parkcab and ucityhostel walk the triple line of people, planet and profit — and I value that," says Ash. "I just think for Philly to continue to strive as a truly international, truly green and modern city having great hostels and these velos are important to promoting who we are."

Or at least who we should be.

(a_amorosi@citypaper.net)