Wednesday, December 3, 1997
What ever happened to Dan Webber, owner of Paradise Pedicab, who said in a lawsuit that restrictions imposed by the city forced him out of business? Pedicab operator
settled with cityDan Webber collected $75,000 from the city in a 1990 settlement after more than a year of arguing against the city ordinance that kept open-air tricycles off Waikiki's main streets.
The City Council voted to ban pedicabs from Kalakaua and Kuhio avenues, Ala Wai Boulevard and Kalia Road in 1989, claiming they impeded traffic.
The Council also heard testimony from Waikiki residents who claimed some operators were charging outrageous fares and pedicabs were a public nuisance.
Webber's lawsuit charged the city had taken his business without just compensation. The Council, in turn, argued it had responsibility for public safety.
The city said the settlement was not an admission of guilt.
The decision to settle was reported to be an economic one.
After the demise of his pedicab business, Webber went into real estate.