Jail pedal power in Rome rickshaw drive
Ex-inmates to ferry tourists around
28 July, 13:27
(ANSA) - Rome, July 28 - Former jail inmates are powering a
new drive to spread the use of rickshaws by tourists in Rome.Three new rickshaws have been added to five existing ones sometimes seen in the historic centre, Rome tourist chief Mauro Cutrufo said after signing a deal with hotel associations.
Ex-prisoners or inmates out on bail will drive them round the tree-lined avenues of Villa Borghese, rivalling the more expensive 'botticelle' or horse-drawn buggies.
"This will be a way to advertise the attractions of Villa Borghese," said Cutrufo, who is also deputy mayor.
In the future, he said, more rickshaws will take visitors to other museums.
The vehicles, which have rechargeable electric motors to help on climbs, will also be decked out in city of Rome livery.
Tourists will pay just 30-40 euros ($40-50) per trip, by reservation only (freephone 3206917906), Cutrufo said.
The rickshaws will help cope with increasing tourist numbers, he observed, revealing that arrivals grew by more than 10% in June "and we expect similar results in July and August".
The first new rickshaws will start trundling around Villa Borghese on Wednesday, Cutrufo said.
Rome environment councillor Fabio De Lillo said Rome would be pushing to get rickshaws officially recognised as road vehicles in revised driving laws set for approval by parliament sometime soon.
