City Councilwoman Kristin Gisleson Palmer

Bob Forrester, pedicab driver

N.O. pedicabs, up close

Mayor Mitch speaks

Across Decatur, the mules rolled their eyes

FRENCH QUARTER - After all the wrangling and clerical errors, the day of the bike taxi has finally arrived. City officials are marking the beginning of the pedicab era in New Orleans this afternoon at Washington Artillery Park, across from Jackson Square.

Need a Ride driver, Bob Forrester, and proprietor, Evan Alfred, were on hand with other pedicab participants to herald the new era, and, of course, give Mayor Mitch and City Councilwoman Kristin Gisleson Palmer rides.

Once the pedicab industry was approved and the taxicabs and horse carriage operators failed to dig up any dirt, companies competed in a lottery to become the officail companies. Bike Taxi Unlimited and NOLA Pedicab were chosen in the lottery, and will begin take customers around downtown New Orleans today.

"We look forward to opening within the next couple days," Alfred said.

Mayor Mitch was onhand to talk up the city's bike friendly approaches as of late. He promised more bike lanes, and thanked the operators.

City Councilwoman Kristin Gisleson Palmer, who represents the French Quarter and chairs the Council's transportation committee, talked about the pedicabs' part in make New Orleans a more sustainable city. She said New Orleans is currently sixth in the rankings of green cities.

"We want to be number one," she said.

The pedicab companies onhand said they are still looking for drivers.

The location of the rollout was not to the liking of everyone gathered near Jackson Square, however. Across Decatur St., carriage drivers' mules watched as the bike taxis were unveiled.

"Having their rollout here is a slap in the face," one buggy driver said.

Carriage drivers opposed the pedicabs from the beginning, claiming that the new industry will cut into their business.

"They're not supposed to give tours, but you know they will anyway," he said. "But then again they've been riding those things for a while, law or not. So I guess it won't be much worse."

By the end of the afternoon, the Mayor got to test drive one of the pedicabs for himself: