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(Joyride)

After weeks of delays the Birmingham City Council, on Tuesday, approved an ordinance allowing low-speed taxicab services, such as Joyride, to operate in the Magic City.

City officials said Joyride expressed interest in operating in downtown, Avondale and Lake View where there is an active restaurant and bar scene.

Under the new ordinance, low-speed cabs, which are typically large golf carts, will be allowed to operate on roadways with speed limits that don't exceed 35 miles per hour. The carts will have a speed limit of 25 miles per hour, and the city traffic engineer must approve all routes.

All passengers must wear seat belts at all times, according to the ordinance.

"Birmingham is an up-and-coming city," said Bryan Dill, a representative for Joyride. "I think the Lake View area, Southside and Regions Field and 1st Avenue area (of downtown) are coming into their own, and it is only going to continue to grow. (Birmingham) is a national progression in our expansion."

Joyride Birmingham is expected to be operating by late April or early May, he said. Hiring will begin soon. Click here for more information.

Dill said he anticipates Joyride operating in the downtown area east of Interstate 65 to Highway 280 in Avondale, north to the BJCC, and southeast to UAB and Five Points South.

"We focus on short rides," he said. "We aren't trying to compete with taxis and Uber. We take the rides that taxis don't want."

Dill said a large portion of Joyride's business is made up of sight-seeing tours. Some of the tours being considered for the Magic City are civil rights, haunted sites and breweries.

Joyride currently operates in Tuscaloosa, Nashville, Knoxville, Tenn., Panama City Beach and Tallahassee.

According to the ordinance, fares will be charged per person, per ride and must be clearly posted.

Before being allowed to operate, the low-speed cabs must be inspected by the Birmingham Police Department. The vehicles must have headlights, signal lights, tail lights and brake lights. All vehicles must have Alabama license plates.

Next month, the Birmingham City Council is expected to consider an ordinance that will allow pedal tours.