Pedal Power Comes West

They're a sight rarely seen in the Far East these days, but rickshaws have become increasingly common in some of Western Europe's major metropolises. First introduced in the West in the '90s as an environmentally friendly novelty, they have since become a fun way to cover short distances in crowded neighborhoods. While unlikely to become an everyday form of commuter transport, in places like Paris, London and Groningen in the Netherlands, rickshaws — technically known as pedicabs or trishaws, since the drivers are cycling, not running — hold their own in tourist traffic against more conventional vehicles. "For a night on the town it's a bit of a lark," says a London theatergoer who clambered into one on a recent evening for the short ride to a nearby restaurant. Passengers are partially exposed to the elements, so many pedicabs come equipped with a blanket for cold, rainy nights. Rickshaw rides aren't cheap, though. In London, where most pedicab drivers ply their trade among the winding streets of the West End theater and entertainment district, a trip for two from Waterloo Bridge to Soho will run you about $20. In Paris, where rickshaws also go by the name pousse-pousse, a 40-minute ride around the city's main landmarks is $80 for adults and $40 for kids