http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/small-business/77933098/ebike-operator-suggests-rickshaws-for-getting-about-in-palmerston-north E-bike operator suggests rickshaws for getting about in Palmerston North March 17 2016 JANINE RANKIN
[image WARWICK SMITH/FAIRFAX NZ http://www.stuff.co.nz/content/dam/images/1/a/e/z/z/1/image.related.StuffLandscapeSixteenByNine.620x349.1aedka.png/1458156270135.jpg Kelvin Tong of Ezy Rider bike hire rides a power assisted rickshaw on Centennial Drive. ] Ezy Rider electric bicycle hire owner Kelvin Tong has challenged the Palmerston North City Council to invest in a couple of rickshaws. Speaking to the council's sport and recreation committee on Monday, Tong said free rides in a rickshaw would give visitors a special memory of the city to take away. He said it could be a simple way to encourage people to see more of the city, using a clean mode of transport. "We know Melbourne for its trams. "Perhaps Palmerston North could be remembered and known for a tried and true inner-city mode of transport." Ezy Rider has a fleet of 18 electric bikes available for hire, based at the i-Site. Tong said they were a popular choice for people who were worried they were not young enough, or fit enough to ride a bicycle. The extra power to supplement their pedalling made it possible for them to explore parts of the region within about a 30 to 40-kilometre radius. Tong was also keen to market them to a growing number of regional bus passengers who sometimes had three or four hours to spend in Palmerston North between connections. He also has a prototype electric rickshaw that was available for hire, and had outings around Christmas for the price of a gold coin. It had not paid for itself, "but it gave some people a lot of joy". Tong said the regular appearance of rickshaws would add an extra dimension to the city's appeal. His proposal was that two rickshaws, worth about $9500 each, could operate for five hours a day on Fridays to Sundays and public holidays. Transport would be free around the central business district, and to and from motels and hotels. They would also be available for charter, for guided tours around The Square and retail areas, Te Manawa, Victoria Esplanade and out to Massey University. It would create two part-time jobs for rider-drivers. Tong said the fact that most of Palmerston North was flat and easy to navigate should be used to its advantage. Cr Adrian Broad remembered about 20 years ago tuk-tuks had been tried in Palmerston North. The venture had some success in summer, but was not viable in winter. Tong said the rickshaws would be more versatile because they could be covered over with a transparent, weather-proof screen for passengers, so could work through the seasons. "Just because things did not work before doesn't mean you don't try again. I would rather look at why it didn't work, and how you could make it work this time." The committee did not debate Tong's proposal, but simply received his deputation. There would need to be a submission to the proposed annual plan in order for the council to consider putting money in its budget. Tong suggested grants or sponsorship could be available to support the venture [© 2016 Fairfax New Zealand] For EVLN EV-newswire posts use: http://evdl.org/evln/ {brucedp.150m.com} -- View this message in context: http://electric-vehicle-discussion-list.413529.n4.nabble.com/EVLN-e-rickshaws-for-getting-about-in-Palmerston-North-nz-tp4681218.html Sent from the Electric Vehicle Discussion List mailing list archive at Nabble.com. _______________________________________________ UNSUBSCRIBE: http://www.evdl.org/help/index.html#usub http://lists.evdl.org/listinfo.cgi/ev-evdl.org Read EVAngel's EV News at http://evdl.org/evln/ Please discuss EV drag racing at NEDRA (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEDRA)
