The South by Southwest music festival bills itself as “the premier destination for discovery.” It’s also the destination for truckloads of cash, as music and art fans flock to Austin, Texas, each March. Last year’s event brought nearly $100 million to the city, according to one analyst.

The more than 200,000 “creative class” types — musicians, media gurus, filmmakers — who come to South by Southwest (often known merely as SXSW) spend money not only at the official event, but also in Austin’s rich underground economy.

The annual festival has become a cash cow for the city, says Ben Loftsgaarden, an economic analyst with Greyhill Advisors who studied the economic impact of last year’s event.

“About $99 million, almost $100 million, was basically injected back into the Austin economy over that nine-day festival period,” he said.

Lofstgaarden says this year’s visitors might spend a bit less, because of the tough economy. But the money is not just going toward tickets. There’s a kind of underground economy that has grown up around the festival: food vendors, merchandisers, knickknack sellers, cab drivers.

Well, maybe not exactly cab drivers. For the SXSW crowd, pedicabs, or bike taxis, are all the rage.

“The attenders for SXSW are much more likely to take a pedicab versus a cab,” said Amy Waller, a pedicab driver who moved to Austin from Baltimore. “It’s just cooler. It’s trendier — that’s why we’re making money.”

Waller says she hopes to make some pretty good money shuttling conference attendees to and fro. “Maybe like a month’s pay at my day job, my 9-to-5,” she said.

If that happens, Waller already knows how she’ll spend the loot.

“Everyone kind of plans what they’re going to do with their money,” she said. “My plan is to try to buy a motorcycle, so I can get rid of my car. That’s what I’m banking on, that’s my goal.”

During the festival, there’s no shortage of food. Marc Stimak owns Texas Picnic Company Barbecue and Char Pit, a mobile food trailer.

“We do chopped beef, Carolina pulled pork and Alabama chicken,” Stimak said. “Comes with a white barbecue sauce, 12 ingredients. It’s killer good.”

And in a nod to Tex-Mex tradition, you can get it all in a tortilla. Every year, mobile food vendors take up strategic positions all over downtown Austin. In a good SXSW year, Stimak will make almost four to six times what he would in a normal week.

“It’s kind of like our Christmas, if you will. This is the Christmas season,” he said.

Even so, Stimak says people are spending a bit less. Patrons who used to buy his two-for-one taco special just for themselves are now splitting it with friends.

But because almost all of the vendors are local, most of the money spent on things like food and transportation goes back into Austin’s economy.
Mike Shea, SXSW executive director, says Austin is the perfect partner for the festival, especially compared with other — colder — cities.

“Every time it freezes in New York, we get another hundred registrations in Austin,” he said.

And with every one of those new registrants, Austin prepares a little more food and a few more cabs.

Wildman, who owns Malibu Yogurt at 825 E. University Blvd, uses his Main Street Pedicabs manufactured Billboard Bike to get to and from his store.

“Because it is my bike and because I ride it, I can park it just like any other car,” Wildman said.

Tucson regulates business signage, but the Billboard Bike doesn’t fall under those regulations.

Wildman says it is no different than people who stick advertising on their cars and drive around the city or the billboard trucks that drive around the city.

But, according to Dan Werner, director of sales and marketing at Mainstreet Pedicabs, it has one big advantage; no pollution.

“When you compare it to big trucks spewing out fumes, there is no comparison,” Werner said.

Many people don’t want their businesses associated with a loud and smelly truck and the Billboard Bike offers a carbon free way to advertise that, “really turns heads,” Werner said.

The bike, which sells for about $3,400, includes everything you need to get started except for the batteries to light up the sign at night.
According to Werner, the company hasn’t sold more than a few dozen of the Billboard bikes, but like the pedicab, when someone sees one, they want to know more about it.

Pedicabs have been advertising on the back and sides of their bikes from the beginning, but because Billboard Bikes don’t require liability insurance like pedicabs, more people are looking into the them, Werner said.

“Pedal power is a very cool thing,” Werner said. “Not only is it something you can use to build a business and earn money, but it is doing it the right way.”

Wildman said he has gotten a lot of positive feedback from people who have seen him out riding his Billboard Bike.

Popular at such tourist haunts as Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco, the bicycle rickshaw has arrived at the Sundial Bridge in Redding.

Bob Frost, a 57-year-old retired U.S. Forest Service worker, opened Sundial Pedicabs last month.

Starting with one cab and operating intermittently when weather permits, Frost will take visitors around the Sundial Bridge, along the Sacramento River Trail and even through the McConnell Arboretum at Turtle Bay Exploration Park.

Frost signed a one-year contract with Turtle Bay. The deal mandates that he carry insurance and pay Turtle Bay 10 percent of his profits each month.

“I am enjoying doing it. I spent my whole adult life out in the woods, so I love the outdoors and enjoy the weather,” said Frost, who worked in timber sales and also did firefighting for the Forest Service.

The rickshaw service charges $20 an hour, $10 for 30 minutes and $5 for 15 minutes. All rates are double occupancy.

Frost can go as far west as the Keswick Dam powerhouse and will be able to go east to the Mt. Shasta Mall once the bike path is completed in conjunction with the Dana Drive-to-downtown Redding retrofit.

Rosalinda Avitia came to the bridge Monday afternoon with her daughter and granddaughter. The Shasta Lake resident bought a 15-minute trip with Frost.

“For a relaxing day, it’s great to let somebody else take you around,” Avitia said. “I think it can be very romantic.”

With sunny skies and temperatures hitting the high 60s, Monday proved a good day for Frost to take his rickshaw out, though he didn’t have many customers.
But he is not discouraged and is confident business will pick up once the weather warms.

“I am kind of looking at people who are mobility challenged; they have a hard time getting around and want to get out and see things. I’m hoping to be attractive to their needs,” Frost said.

Frost envisions taking passengers on moonlight rides on summer nights. He expects to operate from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and 6 to 10 p.m. during the summer.

The yellow-and-black rickshaw Frost uses was made by Main Street Pedicabs in Broomfield, Colo. Frost paid about $3,900 for the custom-made cab.

Over the next several years, Frost said he expects to see his fleet of cabs growing to four or five. He also would someday like to provide a shuttle service from Hilltop Drive down to the River Trail.

“The long range would be for me to get off the bike and manage the business,” Frost said.

Turtle Bay spokesman Toby Osborn was off Monday and unavailable for comment.

For more information about Sundial Pedicabs, call 351-1755.

“Hey, Rickshaw Willie,” someone calls out as Tim Wilhelm drives his Pedicab down Main Street in Akron, Ohio. It’s a common occurrence these days, as Wilhelm, aka “Rickshaw Willie,” has become somewhat of a local celebrity.

“Everybody has to have their picture taken with Rickshaw Willie,” Wilhelm says. “People are hugging me all the time, and kids will run out to the edge of the curb to high-five me as I drive down the road. Even some local business owners came up to me while I was eating dinner and told my wife that I had become a downtown Akron icon.”

But it was only about a year ago when the 54-year-old Wilhelm found himself depressed and at a crossroads in his life. A truck driver for 31 years, Wilhelm became the victim of a sagging economy when the trucking company he works for merged with another and then decided to take him out of his truck and onto the loading dock.

“It was about the lowest point I had ever been in my life,” he says. “I didn’t know if I’d pull out of the depression, but I’m not a quitter, so I kept thinking about what I could do.”

Not one to just sit around, Wilhelm went online looking for a new opportunity and came across Main Street Pedicabs, a manufacturer of Pedicabs in Broomfield, Colorado.

“I watched some of their videos and I thought that this was something I could do,” he says. “But people kept telling me that I was crazy and too old to do it.”

One of those skeptics was his wife of 30 years, Lori.

“When Tim first spoke of a rickshaw last winter, I thought it was just a way to pass the time while he was laid off,” she says. “No way would a rickshaw work in Akron.”

But Wilhelm defied the naysayers and purchased the Pedicab anyway. Ten months later, he has had encounters with celebrities, has endeared himself to the community and has become stronger, both mentally and physically.

“As soon as I got the Pedicab and started riding it, I realized that I wasn’t too old, and I was actually getting younger as I was riding it,” he says. “I felt younger in my mind, but my body was definitely getting stronger, too.”

Wilhelm’s first official day out with his new Pedicab was during Akron’s St. Patrick’s Day parade. When some of the parade organizers saw him dressed for the occasion on his decorated Pedicab, they asked Wilhelm if he would drive Akron’s beauty queen through the parade route.

“It was a big hit and everyone enjoyed it, so I knew I was onto something,” he says. “I knew with this Pedicab that I had something special and unique in its own way, so I started volunteering for the Kids Bike Rodeo and other events.”

One of those events was a charity pub crawl to raise money for cancer research in Barberton, Ohio. Wilhelm volunteered to drive people from one bar to the next. He kept people from drinking and driving, but he also learned that he had gained a key ally.

“At about midnight that night, a Barberton policeman pulled up beside me in his cruiser, gave me a thumbs-up and told me I had done a real good job,” he says.

Wilhelm also has volunteered for events with the Copley Police Department, and even let Chief of Police Michael Mier drive him around in the Pedicab.

“Rickshaw Willie has become a regular visitor to our special events,” Chief Mier says.  “His colorful outfits and special bicycle attract a lot of attention.  Children and parents alike enjoy the ride.  Rickshaw Willie has helped make these events special and fun for the children of our community.  We have found that children have so much fun at community events that they can’t wait to return the following year.  Rickshaw Willie has been a big addition and one of the highlights.”

Although Wilhelm admits the police “looked at him a little funny” when he first got started, he says they quickly realized that he and his Pedicab were an asset to the community.

“I think they can see that the Pedicab is a safe and unique way to get around town without tying up traffic,” he says. “About a month ago, one of the Akron policemen pulled me aside and said, ‘Rickshaw Willie, if you ever need any help down here, you let us know and we’ll come from all directions.’ When the police tell you something like that, you know you are doing something right.”

Wilhelm certainly gained support from the local police, but he soon realized that others were taking notice, as well.

While driving his Pedicab around a bike rally in downtown Akron, legendary rocker Chrissie Hynde, of the Pretenders, asked to speak with him. An Akron resident, Hynde noticed Wilhelm from the patio of her vegan restaurant.

“She has been interested in bringing Pedicabs to the area, and has even brought it up to people, but no one has ever followed up on it,” he says. “So, she was surprised and excited to see there was actually one in town, and talked to me about expanding the business in downtown Akron. It was something that caught me off guard, but to meet Chrissie Hynde was real exciting for me.”

“But I also started to realize that I was becoming my own celebrity,” he continued. “When the big celebrities start to notice you, it means you’re catching somebody’s eye.”

And he was right. Wilhelm caught the eye of another celebrity when he took his Pedicab to the LeBron James Bike-a-Thon. That’s where Mo Williams of the Cleveland Cavaliers asked Wilhelm to drive him through the course in his Pedicab.

“It was pretty exciting and I was more than happy to do it,” Wilhelm says. “We pulled over near the crowd at one point and we were swarmed by people who wanted to see Mo Williams. I turned to him and said, ‘Mo do you want me to get you out of here,’ and he said ‘go, go go,’ so it was exciting to bust out of the crowd like I had Elvis Presley in the back.”

In addition to meeting many interesting people, Wilhelm says his Pedicab business has improved both his health and morale.

“I’ve gotten a lot stronger,” he says. “In fact, I just got back from the doctor and they were impressed with my heart rate and blood pressure, especially for someone my age. I ride with the Stark County Bicycle Club out of Canton, and they’ve really noticed how much stronger I’ve gotten. It has made me a stronger person, and I think I can attribute a lot of that to the Pedicab.”

And it’s not only Wilhem’s physical strength that has improved.

“A guy I work with told me that he noticed a big change in me not long after I got my Pedicab,” he says. “He could see the improvement in my attitude and that I was smiling again. He could see that I was a much different, much happier person.”

Wilhelm still works on the loading dock, however, and he’s still not happy about it. But instead of letting it get him down, he now focuses on brighter things.

“Instead of worrying about that job, I think about all the opportunities with my Pedicab business,” he says. “It took my mind off of the negative things and put me on a different direction.”

And Wilhelm likes the new direction his life is headed and takes pride in the courage he had to invest in a new business, and himself.

“Just knowing that I took a business where everyone told me I was too old to do it, and I actually did it makes me feel good,” he says. “It’s getting bigger for me everyday and it’s just as exciting for me today as it was the first day I started driving my Pedicab.”

Wearing a black leather jacket reminiscent of Johnny Ramone, well-manicured facial hair and a big grin, Tony Benedict, owner of Pure Power Pedicab, is East Lansing’s one and only bicycle taxi.

Benedict, an East Lansing resident and former paramedic, has been serving the East Lansing community since November 2008 with his human-powered mode of transportation.

“I go completely on tips, and I do that because I don’t want to set a set rate,” Benedict said. “Some people just want a ride and they really don’t have a lot of money. I figure everyone should have a ride if they just want to go home and they don’t live too far away.”

On average, Benedict said he is tipped $5-$6 for rides that average about a quarter mile, although a particularly generous customer once gave him $100.

Benedict operates his taxi Thursday through Saturday, starting around midnight. On any given night, he’ll give 20-40 rides with two or three people riding in his cab at a time.

Aimee Ryder, an interdisciplinary studies in social science and human resources and society senior, rode in the pedicab for the first time this winter.

“It was something I always wanted to do before I graduated,” she said, “We had left from the bar, Rick’s (American Café). We were going to our house.”

Ryder said the blanket Benedict includes in the cab to keep passengers warm and his willingness to take photos of her and her friends made the ride that much better.

Benedict’s relationship with bicycles began when his truck was destroyed and he began using a bicycle as a primary mode of transportation. This, he said, was when he realized the power of bicycles.

For Benedict, his pedicab is more than a job — it also is a way to demonstrate his desire to reduce dependence on automobiles and congestion.

“I am doing it kind of for the money, but not really,” Benedict said. “It’s just very enjoyable, meeting new people and if they enjoy the ride and if these things can grow, that’s what I’m looking for — like something where I can contribute to East Lansing a little bit.”

Benedict’s pedicab weighs in at 185 pounds. The giant tricycle can hold three passengers, has 21 gears, disc breaks, turning signals and brake lights. Brandished on the back of the pedicab’s chassis is a painting of a tiger, a symbol that Benedict chose, he said, because “it gives it strength.”

Benedict sees the future of pedicabs and that of the East Lansing and MSU communities as intertwined. Aside from being environmentally friendly, to Benedict, bicycle taxis could contribute to the area’s “flavor.”

“I do know MSU and East Lansing are definitely looking for new ways to stimulate the city as well,” Benedict said. “This would just be something to help stimulate a little of it. Give it something new, something different.”

Ricky Grunden, a 22-year-old student at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, mounts his Trek Road Bike every morning to pedal the 10 minutes through shaded neighborhoods to campus.  He rides his bike to work, to the gym, to friend’s apartments and even into Downtown.  He rides his bike everywhere.  But Grunden also has a Toyota 4Runner sitting in the garage of his duplex.

“Our country is at a constant rate of increase concerning urbanization,” said Grunden.  “As that happens, cities are becoming friendlier toward bike transportation and it’s good because you can get around faster and you don’t need money for gas.”

Grunden is not the only one researching inexpensive alternatives into his daily routine because of the economy.  According to data from Bike Europe published in May 2009, bike imports to the United States exceeded car sales in the same country by $.4 million.  This means that over the course of several years, the demand for bicycles rose, which in turn stepped up production, making bikes appear as a more logical alternative to cars as a primary source of transportation.

“What we’re seeing is people are gravitating towards comfort and easy ride road bikes for more recreational use [as opposed to performance],” said Senior Marketing Manager of Mongoose/Schwinn Bikes, Lori Heimerl.  “More people are becoming educated about the effects of biking and are picking it up.”

Heimerl said Mongoose sales increased from $113 million in 2008 to $116 million in 2009, but these numbers can be misleading.  Both these profit margins are severely lower than peak years in the past; down about 30 percent according to Bike Europe.  And just because the dollar amount in sales goes up, warned Heimerl, doesn’t mean more people are buying bicycles. “Between 2007 and 2008, we passed along material price increases to our customers, the Wal-marts and Targets of the world,” said Heimerl.  “What they paid for our bikes, they had to charge their customers for retail. So we made more money, but we sold fewer bikes.”

Benjamin Joannou, Vice President of J&B Imports, which owns Sun Bikes, believes the rise in sales, with respect to dollars, is up due to market and merchandise sales. “Our market sales are up, which means more consumers are repairing their older bikes instead of buying new ones,” he said.  “If bike sales passed car sales, they’ve done so on a low level.”

One branch of the cycling industry that is booming in business is the pedicab.  Popular in large cities such as San Diego, New York City and Boston, the pedicab is a carbon-free taxicab that uses manpower to drive passengers around car crowded streets.  In laymen’s terms, a bike drawn carriage.

Austin pedicab driver, Dane Edwards, joined the business during his first years pursuing an undergraduate degree at the University of Texas.  He said he needed something to satisfy his passion for cycling after he returned from a 4,620 mile journey to Alaska. “I don’t have a passion for taking people places,” Edwards said.  “In a car, you’re simply moving from one place to another.  You can’t feel the wind in your hair or experience the city.”

Edwards doesn’t mind the economic benefits either.  For one day, he rents a pedicab for around $70 from his employer Capital Pedicab and collects anything past the rental fee as a straight paycheck.  A ride in a pedicab costs anywhere from $5 to $10 a person, depending on the distance to travel, whether it’s uphill or downhill and what a passenger is wearing.
“It’s intuitive,” said Edwards.  “If they’re decked in fur, I know I can squeeze in an extra buck or so.”

Pedicabs, even on the corporate level, are witnessing an increase in units sold.  Dan Werner, Sales and Marketing Director for Main Street Pedicabs in Broomfield, Colorado, said he is selling more pedicabs than ever before, but the demographic he’s selling to has changed since the recession.  More small town folk from Ohio, Idaho and South Dakota are snagging this trend to solve their financial problems. “There’s a silver lining for us.  I’ve had people call me earlier this year just at the end of their wits.  Their job was being consolidated and mergers were happening,” said Werner.  “I can just sell them a good and reliable product that they can turn around and make money with.”

Werner refers to a pedicab as an investment, costing on average $4,000 per vehicle.  But that’s pocket change, he said, compared to the money a driver will rake in between fares and advertising, or as he calls it, “The Rolling Billboard.” Maintenance on a bike also costs drastically less than on a car, which depreciates over time. “Having a bike in a big city is extremely cost effective,” said Grunden, who can’t remember life before his bicycle.  “It’s amazing I was still able to afford food while I was paying for gas this time last year.”

It was Bucky inviting me to lunch. He told me to meet him at the OK Bicycle Shoppe. This is a Asian fusion taqueria that used to be a old bicycle shop that Buckys’ grandpa used to run. They are a dog friendly place so Coop was alowed to sit with us and they have a back patio that I was able to park the ride in to keep it safe. After an delicious lunch we went outside to get moving, Bucky made a phone call and found us a place to stay for a bit. Kelly lives less than a mile from the Shoppe and has a backyard for the ride and dog. While we were outside chatting Ray pulled up on his bike and asked if I wanted a guided tour of Downtown Mobile. I was happy to have a native pointing out the things I would of missed on my own. While riding around the people of Mobile where very curious and to what we where all about. One such person was Nadine, I met her outside a new gallery that had just opened above a tatoo shop. She informed me that there was a Artstrology show going on there that night for free and we should stop on by. After the tour we headed over to Kellys’ place to get cleaned up and settled in. I made dinner for Kelly and I and we headed out to go check out the show. When we arrived we were introduced to all the local artist that had stuff up on the walls. I told them of my adventures and everyone was amazingly nice. Nadine was there and asked if I might be interested in going to see Gov’t Mule that was starting in about an hour. I said I didn’t have any money and she said not to worry that she would take care of it because she felt I really needed to go see the concert. I was more than happy to go to the show. I was even happier when I found out we where sitting front row!! It was an amazing show and everyone around me was very nice and interested to hear about how I have traveled over 2,ooo miles to be there. After the show we went around back and met Warren Haynes!! I got his autograph, and pic with him and gave him one of my cards. He was truly amazed and interested in reading about it. After the show we went to a couple bars and I continued to be amazed at how nice everyone is down here. I also learned that there isn’t a set closing time for the bars. There are some places that stay open and serve 24 hours!!! I got back to Kellys around 5 am and crashed out with a huge smile on my face!

I woke up 2 hours later to my alarm. And wasn’t able to go back to sleep. I putzed around getting stuff organized and ready to roll out the next day. Sunday brought on rain and football. That afternoon Bucky swung by to pick me up and we went to the Mellow Mushroom to watch the Jets game. Coming from NYC I have a love for NY sports teams good and bad. My football team is the Chitown Bears. But they suck so there is never a chance to root for them to make it to the playoffs. So I was behind my beloved Jets. Unfortunately that was not enough to get the win. After that game we headed back to Kellys’ to feed Coop and see what Kelly was up to. Then we headed to Buckys’ place of employment, Paddy O’Tooles. The regular group of Saints Faithful where present and I was introduced to everyone and settled in to my spot in front of the TV to cheer on the Saints. What a game. After their victory there was good cheer in the smokey bar. As I talked to people at the bar and elsewhere the same question comes up.
“why are you doing this, what inspired you?”
It all comes down to this
EVERYONE SHOULD TAKE AN ADVENTURE OF SOME KIND!!!
No matter how big or small. Stop talking about it, stop wishing about it, just do it. The best thing to do is set the date and don’t deviate from it. Get out and stop making excuses. Life is short.

Everything on this trip has a feeling of meant to be. From the things I see, to the people I meet. Its all seems to have been arranged and taken care of. Even the Saints win. A lot of people want to see the Saints win because of what happened after Katrina. What a lot of people don’t think about is what Katrina did to the whole Gulf area. It was just on a bigger scale in N.O. due to the fact that they are like 10 feet below sea level. So when the Saints won it was a win not only for N.O. but for all the people of the Gulf. There where tears of happiness running down some of the biggest, hardest guys in the bar that night. After the win it was then I decided to stay for a couple weeks. I need to be apart of the whole Original Mardi Gras idea they got going on down here. But I need to be here for the biggest win of all. When the Saints win the Super Bowl.

WHO DAT!!!

To see pictures and read more blog entries by Sean, go to: http://rickshawusa.blogspot.com/

LONDRES.-  Con Boris Johnson los londinenses han cogido el gusto por los pedales. Pero fueron otros los que encontraron mucho antes el potencial a ir sobre ruedas en el ajetreado asfalto de la capital británica. Son muchos los que conocen los ‘rickshaws’, pero muy pocos los que saben verdaderamente los secretos de estos populares triciclos que trabajan como bici taxis. Visitamos ‘Shone Lane’, el gran garaje donde duermen los pedicabs más famosos de toda Europa.

Para entrar hay que marcar una clave en la puerta que sólo conocen los conductores de estos vehículos. “Entran y salen cuando quieren. Ellos se ponen sus propios horarios”, cuenta Vanessa Celosse, que trabaja en Bugbugs, el primer operador que en 1998 sacó a la calle una flota de 18 ciclocarros. En principio, el proyecto estaba destinado para dar “trabajo verde” a los desempleados, pero hoy en día muy pocos viven exclusivamente de dar al pedal. La mayoría de los conductores son jóvenes que vienen a aprender inglés o estudiantes que quieren sacarse el dinero para pagar el alquiler mientras acaban sus clases.

El sistema funciona de modo que estos jóvenes alquilan un rickshaw por unas libras a la semana (entre 40 y 85, según el tipo de vehículo), y como media, frente al manillar se pueden llevar entre 100 y 250 libras semanales, según las horas que trabajen (consulta esta oferta de empleo). Muchos de estos conductores proceden de Latinoamérica (30%), Europa del Este (30%) y Turquía (30%). ¿Españoles? “Alguno que otro también hay —dice Vanessa— pero normalmente vienen sólo por tres meses”.

Si bien lo más solicitado en estos momentos son los alquileres de estos vehículos para bodas y despedidas de soltero y de soltera, Vanessa aún recuerda cuando llamaron a la compañía preguntando si también ofrecían servicios funerarios. “Fue hace poco. Se murió una mujer que siempre había defendido el medio ambiente. Preparamos un carro especial para llevar el féretro y todo el mundo acudió al entierro subido a una bicicleta, fue algo muy especial”, explica.

Pese a estas excepciones, los responsables de los operadores ya no sacan tantas ganancias como antes. Carlos, de Colombia, recuerda el gran negocio que supuso el inicio de los triciclos. “Era una novedad. Los turistas y los mismos ingleses lo veían como algo exótico. Por aquel entonces sí que había trabajo. Te podías sacar alrededor de 700 libras a la semana”, dice. Aunque durante dos años se pasó desde las doce de la mañana hasta las doce de la noche llevando gente de un lado a otro, ahora ha decidido “pasarse al otro lado” del negocio. Hace un mes se compró diez de estas bicicletas de tres ruedas. “Me costaron 700 libras cada una —me cuenta mientras las limpia con esmero— pero quiero vender dos para comprarme una mejor”.

Aunque las de aluminio son las más deseadas, hay un pedicab en concreto que se ha convertido en la “estrella” del garaje. Tiene altavoces de alta definición e incluso hasta televisor. “Se la compró un chico hace tiempo y poco a poco ha ido transformando el vehículo. Ahora es increíble”, dice Vanessa. Aunque el garaje es utilizado por los operadores, también hay particulares que pueden alquilar una plaza individual. Carlos, por ejemplo, paga por su apartado 500 libras al mes. “A los chicos les pides entre 60 y 70 libras a la semana por utilizar la bicicleta. El resto es para ellos. Antes en verano pedían más, pero ahora con la crisis, la cosa está muy mal”, matiza. Aunque hay noches que los conductores se van a casa sólo con 10 libras, Carlos ha enseñado a sus chicos los “trucos” que realmente dan dinero. La jugada maestra son los stripties. “Los turistas siempre te preguntan dónde están. Si tú los llevas, el club te tiene que dar 20 libras. Hay algunos que incluso más”, dice. Los novatos no saben donde están “los puntos estratégicos”, pero los veteranos siempre les ayudan.

Uno de los consejos que también dan a los principiantes es que tengan cuidado con los ‘black cab’, los famosos taxis negros. La batalla que existe entre los dos medios de transporte empezó el mismo día que los triciclos salieron a la calle. “No nos aguantan. Nos cierran el paso e incluso nos tiran monedas de peniques cuando pasan a nuestro lado. Obviamente no todos, pero algunos sí se portan muy mal”, dice Carlos. Por su parte, la Asociación de Conductores de Taxi con Licencia (LTDA) subraya en su página web que “aunque parezca mentira, en el Londres del siglo XXI existe un gran problema con los rickshaws; mientras el Tercer Mundo hace todo lo posible para acabar con el último de esos degradantes artilugios impulsados por pedales, operadores sin escrúpulos obstruyen las calles de la Metrópolis con esas mismas lentas bicis que frenan el tráfico”.

Un episodio que marcó un antes y después en esta guerra fue el pasado mes de diciembre, cuando un peatón se salvó de milagro de un atropello por un ciclocarro descontrolado que colisionó con un restaurante en Soho. La Policía descubrió que el carro tenía batería y los taxistas aprovecharon para pedir que se prohibieran. “Es cierto que algunos utilizaron baterías, pero ahora estamos pendientes de una regulación y nadie se quiere arriesgar a perder el negocio. La pelota lleva años entre el ayuntamiento y la Policía. Aún no sabemos nada, pero puede llegar en cualquier momento, por eso es mejor tener todo perfecto”, matiza Carlos.

Y es que el peso de alguno de los pedicabs hace la jornada insoportable para los conductores. David, de 28 años, empezó hace tan sólo un mes a pedalear y ya no sabe qué pantalones ponerse de todo el peso que ha perdido. “Mis amigos no me reconocen”, me dice mientras me muestra el último agujero del cinturón. Toca el contrabajo y estudia negocios musicales. “En cuanto pueda lo dejo. Hoy por lo menos tengo que sacar 15 libras para pagar el teléfono”. Saca el triciclo que han asignado y me monto en el asiento para irme con él hasta el centro. David asegura que muchas veces, más que el dinero, merece la pena toda la gente interesante que conoce en los trayectos. “Me gusta hablar con ellos”. Y la verdad es que él tiene grandes historias que contar. A los 17 años se fue de casa y desde entonces ha estado viviendo en Canadá, París, Barcelona, Londres… una auténtica caja de sorpresas.

Me deja en mi destino. En Piccadilly me cojo otro ciclocarro para ir hasta China Town. Aunque la mayoría operan en el centro, nada les prohíbe llevar a sus clientes hasta el rincón más perdido de Londres. Mi interlocutor ahora se llama Marek. Es polaco y tiene 22 años. Lleva un año pedaleando. “En cuanto termine los estudios lo dejo”. Aunque la mayoría de sus clientes no le ha dado problemas, también me cuenta que hay muchos borrachos por la noche que se bajan corriendo antes de llegar al destino para no pagar”. Le pregunto por qué apenas hay chicas metidas a “conductoras”. En el momento en el que me deja subirme a la bicicleta lo entiendo todo. Aquello pesaba horrores. El trayecto apenas dura siete minutos. El precio que hemos pactado es de 5 libras. Aunque en su día fueron los más exóticos, hoy los pedicabs se caracterizan por ser el medio de transporte más caro de la capital británica.

One of my favorite local companies, Boston Organics, is hopping back on the bicycle bandwagon. Literally.

For local deliveries in close proximity to their Charlestown headquarters, Boston Organics will be using their new cargo trike to bring boxes of organic, local produce directly to customers’ doors.

Kudos to Cathy for powering the trike. I’m sure you’ll be well rewarded with some beautiful glutes.

Boston Organics isn’t the first company to employ pedal power. In fact, Jeff sought the help of Boston Pedicab to get started. You’ve seen the pedicab “drivers” around town… they wear fluorescent yellow shirts and are especially popular before and after Red Sox games.

Use these guys! It’s a huge step in reducing your company’s greenhouse gas emissions, plus you’re supporting a local business that’s doing real good for the community.

Sean and Cooper began their adventure in New York City in October and are currently somewhere between South Carolina and Georgia.

After struggling with his old, heavy, three-speed rickshaw, Sean contacted Main Street Pedicabs to see if the pedicab manufacturer could provide him with a better, lighter vehicle.

“It was a no-brainer,” says Dan Werner, Director of Sales and Marketing at Main Street. “Our 21-speed pedal pickup not only provides Sean with a lighter, safer ride, but it also gives Cooper a safe spot in the truck bed.”

Sean’s journey will take him down the Atlantic Coast before heading west through New Orleans, Texas, New Mexico and Arizona. From there the duo will head up the California Coast and then through Oregon and Washington before heading back east to New York, while traveling through Montana, Iowa and the Dakotas, among other states.

Keep track of Sean’s journey at http://www.pedicab.com/wordpress/. Interested readers also can check in on Sean’s blog for more in-depth information, pictures and videos at http://rickshawusa.blogspot.com/.

Here is Sean’s most-recent blog post:

“So, the day has finally come. After 1,100 miles I was in need of an upgrade. Let us start at the beginning. I, with the help of some others, built the Rick that you have all come to know and love! It was a tank with Coop, myself, and all the gear weighing in at some 700 lbs. It only had three gears which meant at every uphill battle I would have to hop off to either push it up while walking along side it, or harness myself to the front so that I could pull it behind me. True to the definition of a Rickshaw; something pulled or pedaled! Before I peaced out of the NYC I was trying to line up some sponsorships that would aid in our completion of this monolithic journey. Surprisingly none were interested, so we’ve been doing it by ourselves. Just like every one of those uphill battles that are now behind us. Upon our arrival in Annapolis a friend of mine, Katzander, gave the heads up to a company in Colorado known as Main Street Pedicabs. http://www.pedicab.com/ Getting to the phone I was able to reach them through a representative named Dan. He gave ear as I got him up to snuff about all that Cooper and I are setting out to do. I asked if he could help me out in any way. Now, don’t get me wrong here. I’m happy with what I built. I’m proud of what I built. It’s just that it weighs in at an amazing 700 lbs.! I’m not training for the worlds strongest man competition. I’m just trying to make it around the United States. So after giving ear, Dan told me that he would look into it and run it by the owner of the company. It didn’t take long to hear from Main Street Pedicabs. They offered up a used floor demo peditruck for a deposit and all I would have to cover is the shipping. They told me that once I was done with peditruck, upon returning, they would give me back my deposit. While talking to them over the phone I noticed that my head was nodding that it was good deal. The only thing was that the deposit was over a grand and the shipping cost to the east would be five hundred dollars… At that time my head was doing the numbers. I only had three hundred dollars to this name of mine. That’s where the photo contest came into play. With that first place prize money and some big loving help from my parents- I was able to bring all of it together. I had the replacement in route being shipped to Wilington, NC. As I was heading to Wilington I posted an add on Craigslist to see if anyone was interested in my original Rickshaw. As it turns out one person was interested. His is name was Seth. He was looking forward to starting a new business in the downtown area, a delivery slash courier service. How surprised was he to see that his ideas were going to come to fruition. Now my Rickshaw, or rather his Rickshaw will be his main star vehicle. For over eight months I labored on that three wheeled notion sinking over a grand into its creation. Seth as a young business man was only able to afford a couple hundred, some dinner, crunchy dog food, and a comfortable spot to pitch my tent in his back yard. It was all good enough for me. The following morning I loaded all of my gear and my good buddy Coop into his truck so that we could head on over to the Two Wheeler Dealer where my enormous package would be awaiting us. Like most things there was a bit of a wait. I sat outside for a couple of hours with all my belongings and the memory of my original Rickshaw who helped me get this far. At ten, the doors opened up and an army of employees came outside one at a time to put out all the bikes for sale today. Coop went to each one of the employees to say his hellos. I was looking for Camron the receiving guy, but he wasn’t in yet. Waiting for his arrival, I started fielding every ones questions about what it is that Cooper and I are doing. For the rest of the morning and early afternoon I chatted with employees and customers about our adventures and where it was that we were intending to head towards. Get this, a woman named Kim was so smitten over Cooper that she kept asking me if she could have him! At around two o’clock it arrived. One of those familiar looking delivery trucks pulled up to reveal an enormous wooden crate. I jumped up runningly to get to the busting of it open. The time had arrived! Busting it open I was amazed to see that it was fully assembled and ready to roll. After we got it down I gave it a good once over with the staff in tow. I loaded up my gear and got Coop situated as I said my goodbyes, hitting the pedals, and getting to what I have set out to accomplish- 10,000 miles, excuse me, now only a mere eight thousand nine hundred!

So, a little about the new one. It is bigger, but it is so much lighter. It isn’t waterproof, but it can hold so much more. It’s even aerodynamic. Coop is now fully contained which relieves a lot of unnecessary stress for me. The frame is less than 200lbs which makes it about 200 or more pounds lighter than the original. This new one has 21 gears! The old only had three. I’m over the pedals more versus the being behind them like the old one. It truly does give more leverage by being over them. All in all, it’s an important upgrade. I only have two more days to go until Myrtle Beach, South Carolina! I’ll be staying with an Army buddy for the whole Turkeyday Weekend. While there I plan on putting my own personal touch and style to the new ride. Till next time,
Love and Licks,
Sean and Coop!”