Rickshaw Confessions Coming to Raleigh Streets

Raleigh Rickshaw owner Donald Mertrud has signed a deal with NBC-17 to install cameras on the rickshaw bikes to tape what Mertrud is comparing to the television series Taxicab Confessions. The cameras are to be installed starting this weekend and a lot of the footage will be ~~streamed~~ compiled on NBC-17’s website, while the rest will be archived for the possibility of a future television show.

Riders will be required to sign a release form, knowing they will be video taped while in transit. The dialogues early in the day will probably be quite mild, but after 10pm expect a PG13 or higher rating.

The new program doesn’t yet have an official name. Maybe Pedicab Confessions, if that name isn’t registered. But then again, Pedicab is one of those terms that has to be used carefully. What are your thoughts on what the new show should be called?

Better watch what you say next time you get on a rickshaw in Downtown Raleigh.

Also, more info from Ginny Skalski, the community content manager for MyNC.com/NBC17 - (aka GinnyfromtheBlog and from 30Threads)

Two rickshaws will feature the cameras, and those rickshaws will feature MyNC.com signs so you know which ones they are. When riders climb aboard, they’ll be given the option of being recorded. If they agree, they have to sign a release. If they don’t want to be recorded, they can stay on the bike and enjoy their ride. Those who agree may be asked questions by the rickshaw driver about life in Raleigh, the holidays, etc…..the best of the videos will be uploaded each weekend to http://www.Raleigh.MyNC.com. As for the videos appearing on TV, that’s always a possibility. On weekdays, NBC17 has a segment that features the best videos/photos/etc. submitted to MyNC.com. So, in theory, some of these clips could make it on that segment or could lead to future programming. Should be fun!

15012/11 09:36 AM

So far the addition of the rickshaws to the streets of Raleigh has been a nice, laid back, and fun thing. This idea makes me wonder if that will change. Personally, it makes me less willing to ride. I hope this doesn’t ruin a good thing.

John Morris12/11 10:32 AM

I think it’s a very exciting and great development for downtown. It’s not like signing the release will be a prerequisite to ride. I can’t wait to check it out! Kudos to Raleigh Rickshaw and NBC17/MyNC.

CS12/11 10:37 AM

It sounds like they will ask permission but also sounds like a great idea for those who want to participate! Should be fun!

Isaac12/11 10:44 AM

Cutting this out of the article:

Riders will be required to sign a release form, knowing they will be video taped while in transit.

So does this mean if you don’t sign, you can’t ride? Because I have used the service quite a few times with my wife, but this whole thing has me thinking those days may be over.

Jedidiah12/11 10:51 AM

The cameras will only be on a couple of the bikes and by default the cameras are off. If you sign a release form, the camera comes on.

Jason!12/11 10:52 AM

What are your thoughts on what the new show should be called?

“Television ruins everything.”?

wg12/11 11:07 AM

this is dumb. whats the point?

arthur12/11 11:11 AM

This is really stupid and they cause traffic problems anyway. I always have thought it was funny that people will go to a gym to work out but are too lazy to walk 3 or 4 blocks!!

15012/11 11:42 AM

Two replies: First to arthur….I can only talk for myself, but taking the rickshaw for me isn’t about laziness. I’ve only ridden twice and it was for FUN! Also, those guys and gals work so hard, especially in the summer, that it’s nice to support them. I don’t agree with the traffic problem either. Second….my small irritation is about the consent form. It’s not a big deal, but now we’ll be asked about it before getting a ride? This type of thing just gets kind of tiring.

RaleighGirl12/11 11:49 AM

Um.

Betsy12/11 12:20 PM

Raleigh will have the most boring confessions of any city on the east coast except maybe Brunswick, Georgia.

TheCatalyst12/11 12:37 PM

How about “Peddling Trash”. Cute idea but this ain’t NY!!

Lisa Jeffries12/11 01:36 PM

How about incorporating some trivia and cash? I’d be game!

corey3rd12/11 01:41 PM

I don’t think they can air anything I’d be willing to confess in the back of a rickshaw.

Most of the conversations will go this way, “It’s cold. How cold is it?” “Why don’t they have heat on this rickshaw?” “You cold or does peddling keep you warm?” “Think it will get warm this summer cause it’s cold.”

Once again12/11 02:03 PM

Once again many Newraleigh readers bash something before it happens. How shocking.

Jason!12/11 02:46 PM

Tell me about it, “Once again”!

Because I’m sure as soon as I actually see one of those cameras on a rickshaw and am offered a release form to sign, I’m _totally_ not going to shudder in disgust at the whole concept like I’m doing now.

Totally. Seeing it actually in operation is going to make it _all_better_.

15012/11 03:02 PM

No bashing on my part, just throwing out the opinion that this might not necessarily be an improvement.

MMI12/11 04:06 PM

It’s being featured on the news, no doubt as a puff-style piece about life in Raleigh.

My initial concern is that you’ll never get anything good if people know AHEAD of time that they are being recorded. That’s why these shows ask for the waiver AFTER the ride. Now I can see that that’s not really the point. It’s just another way to get “man on the street” input about life around town.

It’s pretty much a non-issue. Let NBC-17 have their content, and let Raleigh Rickshaw get the cheap pub!

corey3rd12/11 05:46 PM

they don’t want anything good. Do you really think NBC 17 wants to expose the seedy underbelly of Raleigh? What would they do with a Rickshaw ride featuring a political figure and a crackwhore? Are they going to run footage of sexual wildness on Fayetteville Street? They going to have drunks babbling on about getting screwed by living in Meekerville?

They want young kids having Pat Boone approved clean fun. They want young families that love bringing the kids downtown. They want a beauty feature for Smedes York and his ilk to drool over.

of course there will always be the fear that one of the Rickshaw drivers will keep the tape rolling and put the good stuff up on Youtube. Or use it as blackmail when they catch a guy taking a trip around the Square with his mistress. Guys who are taking their mistresses on the Rickshaw might want to give a healthy tip to prevent this from happening.

go go girl12/11 07:43 PM

seedy underbelly of Raleigh

We actually have one ???

Donald Mertrud12/11 08:00 PM

Raleigh Rickshaw - FULL FRONTAL

Thanks to all the folks who chimed in with their support.

We are looking forward to supporting you in your next project.

Raleigh Rickshaw is always looking for new enviromentally freindly fun ways of enjoying our great downtown. Working with mync.com seems like it could be fun.

Fortunately, we have 100% discretion on what Material is used. We hope to use the most colorful stuff, we’ll see.

Feel free to call our dispatch line starting Friday night if you wish to participate.
919-623-5555

Joe at Slim's12/11 08:19 PM

Name for new show:
My Friend Rick “Shaw” Everything!

R-Mee12/11 10:06 PM

I’d sign up! This sounds like a hoot! So what if it’s fluffy? It’s the Holiday season for fluff! And yeah, it’s cold, bring your blankey, sing carols while intoxicated, and get our 15 minutes of fame! That’s a cool idea and I can’t wait to see the videos.

MMI12/11 10:17 PM

That’s kind of my point, R-Mee. If it’s fluff, it’s not worth getting worked up over. Free content for the news, and free publicity for the City and for the Rickshaw company!

TheCatalyst12/11 10:50 PM

Um MMI…. all content for the news is free… it’s news…

Johnny12/11 11:18 PM

only if it is creepy and free

i still ride my own bike or skate

MMI12/12 12:06 AM

Excuuuuse me, Captain Semantic. Make that “easy-to-come-by content.”

TheCatalyst12/12 01:53 AM

lol… perception is reality therefore semantics are important.

MMI12/12 03:03 AM

(Who are you, Immanuel Kant??)

The only problem with that being that each and every person who read that statement—yourself included—knew exactly what was meant. Your perception was exactly what I intended.

Nit-picking for clarity is one thing. Doing it for it’s own sake is inflammatory. I’ll chalk my statement up to connotation and trust you were smart enough to figure it out.

TheCatalyst12/12 03:08 AM

No actually, a lot of people think news is so corrupt that they do pay for content. Take a kolonipin and chill out.

MMI12/12 03:24 AM

Nah, that’s just the paranoia of those who used to work in TV News. ;oP

Now, since we’re suddenly being semantic (*nyah, nyah!*), I’ll point out that it’s spelled “Klonopin.” However, I’d be willing to give you credit for suggesting a certain anal retentiveness by adding that early “o.” Now THAT would have been amusing.

Jedidiah12/12 08:27 AM

Hey guys, let’s stay on subject. Rickshaws.

Jeremy12/12 09:47 PM

The allure of the taxicab confessions is that they don’t know that they are being recorded until after they have talked during the whole ride. They sign a release at the end. The laws for recording people are different in Las Vegas than they are in Raleigh, NC. Obviously you need consent first, but then you end up having a bunch of people who just “want to be on TV”. Should be interesting to see how it turns out nonetheless.

corey3rd12/12 10:02 PM

I was part of the Candid Camera crew when we shot a bunch of stunts with Dom DeLuise around Raleigh. We taped people and had them sign the releases after we’d fooled them.

gb12/15 11:03 AM

I’m with Betsy. The whole point of Taxicab confessions was that there was always the chance it would turn vulgar. (You fill in what type of vulgarity you were looking for.)

What is NBC-17 looking for? If anything “good” happens, it probably won’t make it on the Web site.

And how is anything “good” going to happen on the back of a rickshaw anyway?!

MMI12/15 02:36 PM

That depends on how how adventurous (permissive?) your date happens to be. >:)

Jennifer12/20 09:46 AM

Official Launch this weekend:

http://raleigh.mync.com/site/raleigh/video_landing_page/?video_id=3917

Jennifer12/22 07:42 PM

First round of Rickshaw Confession videos…check them out!

http://raleigh.mync.com/site/raleigh/news/story/22631/

ncstate fan12/23 09:32 PM

Pretty damn funny!

Fluff? - pretty far from it

Funny? - Definitely

Would I Jump on one of the bikes? - Absolutely

New Raleigh? - a little jealous???

TheCatalyst12/23 09:53 PM

yeah… not so much. The editing is slow in the beginning and over all, really not funny… sorry! I gave it a watch in support of my old alma mater… but I give it 2 thumbs down.

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Jedidiah Thursday, December 11, 2008