Highland Park Bans Pedicab Businesses
The Highland Park Town Council this morning approved an ordinance prohibiting anyone from operating a pedicab business within the town’s borders. The move came after the town received at least one application to operate such a business, presumably during the Christmas season.
The ordinance also prohibits businesses involving “neighborhood electric vehicles,” which I’m told are not the same as golf carts (more research needed, obviously).
“We just didn’t see that there was a crying need for these types of things in our community, as a business, on top of what’s already here,” Mayor Joel Williams said.
What’s already here, during the holidays, are horse-drawn carriages. The council discussed amending the ordinance governing those, but no official action was taken. Pick up this week’s paper for more details.
Obviously the horse drawn carriage businesses didn’t opt out if the scholarship fund on their water bill. And besides, there are no bike lanes in HP on which to keep pedicabs ‘safe’.
Just kidding – and poking fun of myself on my two favorite whipping posts.
Very dissapointing to see the closed minds of city councils to allow diversity of businesses in a community, especially green business options.
Sounds ant-business to me. I love the quote about “we just didn’t see that there was a crying need for these types of things in our community, as a business.” (the Park Cities People paper printed version). In my opinion, the statement sounds kinda like….well,.. snotty.
Why not allow Mr. Tobolowsky to bring an alternative ride. Sounds like HP is closed to competition. I also have to chuckle at the part in the Park Cities People newspaper about….”raising the fees for carriage operators”, and the best of all,… “It’s not very much.” The fee increase were…to offset the cost of processing paperwork. Gosh, what a good laugh! Yet HP renovation budgets seem to yo-yo with thousands wasted. Every dollar matters to small business owners.
The story gets better with how the town subsidizes the carrigae operators, but you know, and in my opinion, the town subsidizes a few other things like local country club fireworks that apparently scare the heck out of families and children while trying to sleep on school nights. Should I continue with subsidization?
Let’s give Mr. Tobolowsky an opportunity for an alternative ride.