pedicabs in ann arbor

Thanks to Homeless Dave for the photo!
Phil Farber reports to the WBWC mail list that five pedicabs are currently offering free rides outside of the Michigan Union. From chatting with the drivers, Phil got plenty of details on the program.

They were offering free rides and had 5 customers this morning. Chase bank is financing the cabs as an advertising gimmick for the next four weeks. The cabs have Chase advertising emblazoned on the sides. There were no takers during the 5 minutes or so I was talking to the drivers.

The company is Bici-Cab. They have 52 of the cabs in New York and some in a few other cities as well. The drivers make good money charging by the block. The cabs are high-quality with molded fiberglass shells, fully geared, with light-weight motorcycle wheels/tires, seating 2 + driver, made in Germany and selling for $14,000 apiece.

We are big fans of the pedicab not because they are the most efficient transportation option, but because they make any trip feel like a Sunday Stroll. A street with pedicabs runs at a slower and more enjoyable pace.

Now, whether a $14,000, fiberglass-covered cab is the best form for a pedicab to take is debatable. Of course Chase bank is not advocating pedicab design here, they are advertising and these cabs certainly sound flashy and extravagant.

So stop by the Union and take a ride, if only to enjoy the fall weather in human-powered comfort. We'd love to post a photo here, if someone could snap one.

catch a cab

Taxi rides can also be an important part of your car-free planning. I use them for example when returning from bigger shopping trips with lots to carry (especially with kids), after getting to the stores by bus. Even though it might seem expensive, compared to owning a car, it's not much at all. Ten years ago, we sat down and itemized how much we were saving by not having a car, then decided how much per week we could spend on taxis. It turned out to be way more than we've ever been inclined to spend!
It’s difficult to hail a cab in town. The city has a few designated cab stands in front of the post office, Michigan Union, etc. It’s best to program your favorites into your mobile phone and call one. All of them will pick-up/drop off at the airport. Comments on these and any other local taxi companies would be appreciated. Which do you prefer and why?

Ann Arbor Taxi
website: http://www.annarbortaxi.com
phone: (734)214-9999

Amazing Blue Taxi
phone: (734) 846-0006

Blue Cab
website: www.bluecab.net
phone: (734) 547-2222

Red Baron Taxi
website: http://www.aaredbarontaxi.com/
email: redbarontaxi@yahoo.com
phone: (734) 995-1900

Tree Town Taxi
website: http://www.treetowntaxi.com/
email: TreeTown@MgoBlue.com
phone: (734) 213-1100

Contributed by: Karen Smith & Scott TenBrink

getting to the airport

Yes, it is a miserable disappointment that, despite having a large population of frequent flyers, our fair city has yet to implement a mass transit option for traveling to DTW. The Detroit-Ann Arbor Transit Study is addressing this issue. However, if the pace of progress on this study is any indication of the speed of the eventual transit, you can expect walking to be faster.
In the meantime, there are a number of options to get to your flight comfortably and on-time. While there are few cheap options, they compare well with the fuel and parking costs associated with driving yourself. The price can be cut by hooking up with others traveling at a similar time.

Ann Arbor Airport Shuttle will deliver you round-trip for $20 one-way $55 ($25 to the airport & $32 back to A2). Big discounts for multiple riders. Reservations required.
phone: 734-394-1665
website: http://www.annarborairportshuttle.net

Commuter Express arranges private cars for $48 one-way.
phone: 1-888-854-6700
website: http://www.commuterexpress.com

Most local taxi companies will also provide airport pick-up or delivery for about $50 one-way. Airport trips are also a great time to cash in on favors from friends and neighbors. It's an easy stop on the way to running other Detroit area errands.

Contributed by: Scott TenBrink

Anyone else have other tips for getting to and from DTW?

nightride from AATA

NightRide is a shared taxi service offered by AATA for times outside scheduled bus service. For $5/person you can get picked-up and dropped off anywhere with the city of Ann Arbor. Passengers need to schedule the ride in advance, can't haul a bunch of stuff with you, and will share the ride with anyone else that uses the service. Still it is a good solution for getting home after the bus stops running.
website: http://www.theride.org/nightride.asp
phone: 734.528.5432

Contributed by: Scott TenBrink