San Diego City Councilmember Marti Emerald says she wants to protect the public which is why on Tuesday she helped pass a new Pedicab Ordinance that is expected to go into effect in October after it is signed by San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders. Emerald says the new ordinance is needed, especially after 60-year-old Sharon Miller fell out of a pedicab, hit her head and later died while visiting San Diego this past 4th of July.
"The basics here, we're limiting the number of pedicabs to about 250 at all times, we're making sure passengers are wearing their seat belts, making sure pedicabs aren't riding on sidewalks or where the traffic is moving at more then 25 miles per hour and Pedicab drivers need to keep their rates posted," says Emerald.
Emerald became passionate about the issue years ago when she was an investigative reporter and learned of the many problems associated with the Pedicab industry.
But some local Pedicab drivers say the real problem is not being addresses. "Pedicabs used to be special in San Diego, we were like Ambassadors, now we're losers," says Trent Martin. Martin believes the solution should be to better regulate who can receive a permit to drive a Pedicab.
"You have drivers who don't have to conform to anything because they're going back to another country," says Andre Marshall, a local Pedicab driver. Marshall says he sees too many people from other countries getting J-1 Visas and he claims they abuse the job by not following the rules of the road and by hiking up their rates. "J-1 Visas are not mentioned anywhere in these regulations," says Marshall.
Councilmember Emerald says she does recognize the J-1 Visa issue and is working with the City Attorney's office to see what can be done on a local level pending a change in vehicle code.
Driver Released from Jail
SAN DIEGO - The 23-year-old Turkish pedicab driver accused in the death of 60-year-old Sharon Miller is a free man.
As he walked out of the George F. Bailey Detention Center on July 10th, San Diego 6 News asked Sukru Safa Cinar, "Do you have anything to say to the Miller family?"
Sukru replied, "I really want to see them."
The District Attorney's Office decided they needed more time before charging Cinar with a crime.
Sukru Safa Cinar from his Facebook page
Police say on July 4th, Cinar rode his pedicab erratically causing retired school teacher Miller to fall out of the pedicab. The 60-year-old Illinois resident, who was in San Diego with her husband to attend a national education conference, fell onto a sidewalk and suffered a severe head injury. She was pronounced dead Sunday at UCSD Medical Center in Hillcrest.
Cinar's pedicab was not equipped with seat belts, authorities said.
The DA says there is still a chance Cinar could be charged in Miller's death.
Cinar had been arrested Tuesday as he prepared to start work.
Sharon Miller and her husband Gary.
"We're just trying to find meaning in all of this," says David Miller, Sharon Miller's brother-in-law. "She was a beautiful midwest farm girl." Miller had become a grandmother for the first time five weeks before her death.
David Miller tells San Diego 6 News he believes pedicab accidents are a hug problem nationwide. "There are tragedies happening because of very poor regulations and inexperienced drivers," says Miller.
