looks like an organized pro-food truck movement is brewing! (Pittsburgh: home, taxi)

[pman]

Originally Posted by Copanut

No doubt, you have never owned a business.

food trucks are a business. just cuz you couldn't compete doesn't mean you shouldn't have to.

[norcider]

Oakland was the epicenter of food trucks in the 1990's. You could choose from probably around a dozen or more trucks and small carts and they were all parked in front of Hillman Library. The city redesigned the old parking lot between Hillman and CLP and wanted to put in restaurants, the food trucks had to go. What a shame, you can still find them, mostly up on Maggie Morrisson (a few on Bigelow by Soldiers and Sailors) but the walk is much greater for the central Oakland worker/student. There were even food cart wars, two warring hot dog vendors fighting over sidewalk space. It got pretty ugly at times between those guys.

[wyoh]

I'm sure someone has done a study of restaurant revenue before and after food trucks started frequenting an area. If it increases revenue for restaurants then I'm all for it. If it doesn't then I'm ok with it if the food trucks pay for the land they're using at a rate equivalent to what the restaurants pay (a food truck permit or something). I'd like to see the restaurant scene improve and I'm concerned that food trucks will affect that.

[SolitaryThrush]

There are still food trucks in Oakland, near Soldiers and Sailors . . . sort of, as they're stationary. Quite good and cheap. Of course, near Soldiers and Sailors and on Margeret Morrison there aren't any other restaurants around.

Students and professors alike flock to the food truck corrals on the University of Pittsburgh and CMU campuses. Indian, Thai, and Middle Eastern trucks serve generous portions of food for between four and six dollars.

In these two areas, truck operators enter a lottery for an initial permit to park in the food truck zone. Once they're in, they never have to move -- several trucks rest on flat tires, roaming no more.

The case for more food trucks in Pittsburgh

Oakland could certainly support both trucks and restaurants. Ever try to eat somewhere in Oakland between 11:30 and 1:30?

[Copanut]

Originally Posted by BrianTH

Yes, areas always thrive when you legally prevent potential customers from getting what they want there.

I, for one, lament these new-fangled horseless carriages, which put out of business all our respectable stable owners.

And no doubt you've never owned a business either.

[eschaton]

I don't understand the anti-food truck argument in regards to competing with traditional restaurants.

The type of business that gets taken away is the most casual dining establishments. Places where you saunter up to a counter, make an order, and leave with your food. And where you can't get a cold beer. The ambiance and service mean nothing here. Besides this sort of place filling up a storefront that would otherwise be vacant, I'm not sure why you would argue it's superior to a food truck.

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by Copanut

And no doubt you've never owned a business either.

Correct. My relevant experience is going after businesses for antitrust violations.

[Copanut]

So, are you going after UPMC?

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by Copanut

So, are you going after UPMC?

I couldn't discuss it if I was, but I think you will find that in our discussions of UPMC around here, I typically explain that I think the relevant markets would benefit from increased competition.

[LIRefugee]

Perhaps food trucks and taxis should be combined, and it should be made legal to hail one from the street.