Hillhater said:
And in the context of this discussion, there is a huge difference between a rickshaw and a Pedicab.!
there is. and an e-rickshaw is certainly possible; wheelchair and powerchair type motor systems would work well enough in the cab's wheels as hubmotors or as an indirect (mid) drive to the axle of the wheels, etc., to reduce the load the rickshaw operator has to physically move. possibly operated like the handrail operated wheelchair motors, that detect you pushing the chair and then it just helps; when you stop pushing it stops assisting. or like the kickscooters that just give a boost each time you kick. or a hand-control of some type on the operator handles, along with an ebrake of some form (just in case).
but because an actual rickshaw wouldn't be usable in most places and situations (in the usa, at least, which is where the op lives) that would need this general style of transportation (very small groups, individuals), i made the presumption that he *meant* pedicab, and continued from there.
even an e-rickshaw would be too slow (walking or at best a slow jogging speed, as the operator must sustain this all day), and not accepted in cities except in certain very limited specific places (parks, for instance), because they could not be used on roads due to other traffic, and couldn't be used on sidewalks due to their size/width, assuming at least enough width for two large people to fit comfortably side by side between the wheels. they would block all other traffic from passing them, and in many places wouldn't even fit on the too-narrow sidewalk at all; similarly most bicycle lanes are too narrow for them.
so the rickshaws simply don't have much of anywhere they can be practically used, vs the need the op is describing.
e-pedicabs could at least be used on slower roads if their speeds are allowed to be high enough (20mph), and those speeds would make them practical to use for much longer distances than the rickshaw. still too wide for many sidewalks and bike lanes. so while still slow, relative to many other forms of public transport, it can still go places and it can go long distances, and still be fast enough to be useful for a lot of people.
whether they would actually use it depends on the alternatives available to them, and their specific needs, and level of patience.