New Braunfels staff urged a choice on paid pedicabs at Wednesday’s council workshop: remove the city’s pedicab provisions or rewrite the rules for operators. The discussion also opened a path toward rules for private shuttles using city streets.
The proposed vehicle-for-hire changes cover passenger services using New Braunfels public rights of way, and the city lists all council districts as affected.
Staff recommended removing pedicab service provisions and described a possible alternative of rewriting the requirements.
City staff says no pedicab operators currently operate in New Braunfels, although Chapter 138 provides a pedicab permit process.
The staff report traces the question back to November 2024, when the city reviewed how it handles pedicab applications. It says several people had inquired about starting service since 2023, but none completed the code’s review and approval process. Transportation, police, fire and other city departments then worked on possible operating and safety rules. Their conclusion left council with two policy paths: tighten the permit system or remove pedicabs from the code. Chapter 138 also covers taxis, ambulance services, towing and water-recreation shuttles, though those services were not the focus of this item.