By City News Service

Los Angeles City Council committee directed staff Tuesday to study the possibility of permitting bicycle-pulled pedicabs to operate in Hollywood and San Pedro. Pedicabs are in use in San Diego and allowed in Santa Monica, Seattle and San Francisco. Officials said pedicabs were permitted in Westwood "years ago," but the program fizzled out after about two years.

Councilman Tom LaBonge, chair of the Trade, Commerce and Tourism Committee, directed the city's taxicab administrator, Tom Drischler, to work with Hollywood and San Pedro business groups to explore the idea and return with a preliminary report in 60 days. Drischler was expected to report on the proposed program today, but said his office is short-staffed and the city would need to hire a consultant to do a true feasibility study into starting a pedicab program.

The council motion to study the idea of a pedicab pilot program in Hollywood was introduced last year by then-Councilman Eric Garcetti, who is now mayor. The Hollywood area is now represented by Councilman Mitch O'Farrell. Councilman Joe Buscaino, who represents the Harbor area, amended the motion today to include downtown San Pedro.



