FAYETTEVILLE — People will soon have a new way to hitch a ride to Dickson Street or University of Arkansas sporting events.
Cole Stocking, a graduate student at the university's Sam M. Walton College of Business, plans to roll out a small fleet of Global Electric Motorcars next month through a company called Piggy Back.
At A Glance
Street Legal
To be deemed street legal, vehicles in Arkansas must have:
• Head lamps
• Tail lights, reflectors
• Signal lights, signal devices
• Seat belts
• Horns, warning devices
• Safety glass, windshields
• Windshield wipers
• Rearview mirrors
• Pneumatic rubber tires
• Brakes
Source: Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration
The City Council signed off on the idea Tuesday.
Piggy Back will offer free rides in six-seat, open-air vehicles resembling golf carts.
Passengers will be encouraged to tip drivers. Stocking said he'll make money by selling ad space in the motorcars.
He said he got the idea from a similar service in Dallas.
"It was just a cool, unique idea," Stocking said. "I knew it would be perfect for this area."
According to Police Chief Greg Tabor, the motorcars will only be allowed on streets where they can reach the posted speed limit.
Stocking said the vehicles go 25 mph -- or 30 mph downhill.
He said he will not operate on main thoroughfares, such as Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, College Avenue or Wedington Drive. But, he added, he wants to be able to cross King Boulevard to get to The Vue and Hill Place apartments. He also might ask for a waiver on Razorback Road south of King Boulevard, where the speed limit is 40 mph, to get to Baum Stadium.
"Football and baseball season is going to be huge -- and basketball games," Stocking said.
He said Piggy Back will shuttle people between tailgate parties and Dickson Street, where the speed limit is 25 mph.
As part of the process for obtaining a certificate of public convenience and necessity from the city, taxi services are notified when public hearings are held for new companies.
Brice Curry of Dynasty Transportation Services NWA was the only taxi service representative to speak at Tuesday's hearing.
Curry urged aldermen to rethink Stocking's proposal. He said the motorcars, without airbags or steel side panels, would crumple in a head-on or T-bone collision.
"This belongs on a golf course," Curry said. "It belongs around an (apartment) complex. It does not belong on our city streets."
According to state law, vehicles must have specific equipment to be deemed street legal.
The city requires taxis to be insured.
Stocking said Piggy Back will meet all of those requirements.
He said drivers will be trained and signs will warn passengers to buckle their seat belts and keep their hands and feet inside the vehicles at all times.
"I realize that there has been some safety concern," said Alderwoman Sarah Marsh. "I ride a scooter, and it's probably a lot more dangerous than these.
"I think that if the Department of Motor Vehicles is permitting these things, then we'll let them handle the safety concerns."
Stocking said he plans to start with four vehicles. The company could add one new motorcar every three to six months, depending on demand, with a maximum of 10 vehicles allowed.
Stocking said he will store and charge the vehicles at the Beaver Electric building on Block Avenue.
NW News on 03/06/2014