A Banff businessman’s bid to run a rickshaw operation is one step closer to reality.
Miles Kennedy wants to operate guided rickshaw tours on roads and multi-use trails from a base at Bear Street’s Bison Courtyard – but Town of Banff legislation presently doesn’t allow for the type of operation.
At a meeting Monday (Jan. 13), council on a 6-1 vote indicated a willingness to revisit the issue and asked administration to come back with a draft of required amendments to the Traffic Bylaw and Land Use Bylaw (LUB) that would allow rickshaw and pedicab tour services.
Councillors expressed an interest in a trial, but they wanted to make sure rickshaws would not make summer traffic congestion even worse, and that safety issues were addressed, including for pedestrians on the trail along the Bow River.
“I think this type of service could be a nice addition to our community, and it’s environmentally friendly,” said Councillor Grant Canning.
“If safety concerns can be mitigated – whether it’s with bells, lights and making sure pedestrian and vehicles are aware – I think it’s worth giving a go.”
The proposal includes retailing and promotion of rickshaw tours from an existing retail shop at 121 Bear St., vehicle storage and minor maintenance in the existing off-street parking facility and rickshaw loading and off-loading from a parking spot on Bear Street.
The LUB only allows for “transportation services” as a discretionary use in a limited number of districts, including the CS Commercial Service District and the CB Commercial Banff Springs Hotel district – not the downtown CD district.
In addition, Banff’s traffic bylaw specifically prohibits the operation of rickshaws for hire.
Town planner Keith Batstone said administration believes the bylaw was intended to prevent rickshaws being operated as taxis, rather than preventing this type of vehicle as a guided tour service.
He said administration also believes existing LUB regulations are intended to ensure that objectionable aspects of “transportation services,” such as washing, maintenance and storing, are confined to appropriate districts.
“This is similar in operation to the horse-drawn carriage, but here everything is located out of Bison Courtyard,” he said.
Kennedy proposes to run the tour service from mid-April to mid-October during daylight hours on a one- to two-year trial basis, showcasing some of Banff’s historic homes and buildings and scenic hotspots like Bow Falls.
He said he believes any concerns, including those around pedestrian and vehicle safety, can be addressed.
“We are going to do everything in our power to make sure this is a success and we have good etiquette on the trails,” said Kennedy.
“Rickshaws will be lighted, can signal and there will be a horn the runner can push. Our rule of operation would be to always give right of way to oncoming traffic.”
Coun. Corrie DiManno was the lone voice of opposition, saying she did not believe rickshaws are appropriate for Banff.
“I don’t see them fitting in with the landscape. They’re more suited for bigger cities,” she said. “I’m concerned they will make traffic congestion in the downtown core more complicated as we trial some of the recommendations out of the Transportation Master Plan.”
Mayor Karen Sorensen voiced support for drafting the legislative changes, but with some reservations.
“I am not opposed to alternate forms of transportation, but I am against creating further congestion and I struggle with the concept of reducing public parking,” she said.
“I don’t want to suggest if the recommendation passes that it’s an absolute rubber stamp because I think there are issues to overcome.”
If council approves amendments to the Traffic Bylaw and LUB, pedicabs would also be allowed to apply for a development permit.
“Administration is of the opinion that limiting any amendments to accommodate only the current applicant would be legally problematic and, therefore, any amendment could accommodate other, similar applicants in the future,” said Batstone.
