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.”

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.”

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!”

NEWARK, Del. — Downtowns, particularly college towns, make room — and rules — for new pedicabs.

Pedicabs, adult-size tricycles with room in the back for passengers, have gone from the occasional tourist attraction to a more prominent means of public transportation, prompting a race by cities to beef up safety ordinances amid backlash from automobile cab operators.

In New York City, a string of traffic accidents and brawls involving pedicab drivers prompted officials to impose new regulations. By Nov. 20, all pedicab businesses must be registered and licensed with the New York City Department of Consumer Affairs.

“The New York Police Department will enforce this law to the fullest extent,” said Consumer Affairs spokeswoman Elizabeth Miller. Operators must agree to an annual safety inspection, too.

Since the licensing process began, 16 pedicab businesses have applied, with 77 affiliated pedicabs and 80 drivers, but the office hopes to see a rush just before the deadline, Miller said. “By the industry estimates, there are over 1,000 pedicab drivers on the street,” she said.

It’s not just a big-city issue. Dan Werner, director of sales and marketing for manufacturer Main Street Pedicabs, said he used to sell primarily to big cities but has seen an increase in orders from what he calls “small-town USA.” Recently, he fielded pedicab business inquiries from Akron, Ohio; Sandpoint, Idaho; and Modesto, Calif. Some of the interest is generated by the public’s thirst for environmentally friendly travel options and ways to avoid traffic during big events, he said.

“The downtown life is big for pedicabs,” he said, particularly in college towns.

Speeding up safeguards

Once just a summertime sight in Delaware, pedicabs have moved from the beach to the streets of downtown Newark. This fall, two pedicab companies launched service in the college town of about 30,000 people to ferry University of Delaware students and others to and from the restaurants and bars that line Main Street.

Newark had no pedicab-specific regulations when Matt Greenberg and Sean Hague, owners of Green Rides, tried to apply for a business license. Pedicab companies are now required to get business licenses and show proof of insurance for their vehicles. Green Rides and the other pedicab company, College Taxi, talked with Newark police about installing lights and other safeguards.

The city of Bloomington, Ind., had no regulations for pedicabs when a business started there in 2008, targeting Indiana University students seeking transportation to downtown nightlife. Legislation is in the works, but it comes with controversy.

“We were contacted by the yellow cab companies saying, ‘Hey, this isn’t fair, and how can they cherry-pick the downtown and do what they want to do when we have to serve the entire city limits, we have to operate 365 days a year, and we have to have a physical building?’ ” said Adam Wason, the city’s assistant economic development director.

In Arlington, Texas, City Council members are mulling a pedicab ordinance, Councilman Jimmy Bennett said.

“What we’re looking at is … do we need to become involved in regulating it with regard to public safety?” Bennett said.

Pedicab regulations that recently passed in Marietta, Ga., require that drivers post the company’s business license and rates inside each vehicle, similar to the procedures followed by taxi cab drivers, said Brian Binzer, director of development services.

This past year, the City Council in Salem, Mass., passed a host of regulations to deal with the rising pedicab industry, member Steven Pinto said.

“Pedicabs started popping up (for the tourists), and we didn’t have anything on the books to deal with them,” he said. The new ordinances deal with certification, liability and traffic safety, he said.

Hailed for filling a void

As baseball fans watched the Yankees take on the Angels inside a Newark pizzeria last month, pedicab drivers from College Taxi and Green Rides were parked at the curb. The safety lights on the pedicabs created a blinking red glare on the sidewalk as the drivers waited for passengers and traded stories about customizing their rides.

The two new Newark pedicab services were started to fill a void created when public safety officials at the University of Delaware said they would stop providing safety escort rides to students.

Pedicab passenger

“I think it’s decent, especially for college people … and it’s good for very tired people like us, who are standing on our feet all day,” Timmon said.

Their trip to the bus stop was powered by Ross Sylvester, co-owner of College Taxi. “They (pedicabs) turn heads when we’re riding down the street. We immediately got a great response. I think the student body really embraced it because on campus there’s no real form of transportation other than the buses,” Sylvester, 20, said.

Pedicab drivers began pedaling at the University of Oregon and Washington State University this fall.

Contributing: Jessica Leving of USA TODAY in McLean, Va.

Done in honor for the Virgin Media Shorts Awards at the BFI, the Flick-shaw is a luxurious two-seater cinema. The mobile cinema, which is perhaps the smallest in the world, is fitted with red velvet seats, a bespoke screen and curtains draping down to the floor. The entire set-up comes complete with surround sound speakers, popcorns, drinks and… and two lovely usherettes. The Flick-saw was seen on the London streets showing 12 short movies listed for the Virgin Media Shorts Awards.

Every time Brett and Matt Dingeldein pass each other while operating one of their pedi-cabs, they salute each other by ringing the bell.

“We’ve got both hands on the handlebars when we’re pedaling,” Brett said. “The bell is right there by your thumb, so it’s a good way to say ‘Hi.’ And we ring the bell at everybody downtown.”

Since Memorial Day, the father and son have operated Green Street Pedicabs, which offers pedi-cab service around downtown Naperville. Brett, 57, got the idea for the business two years ago. While working out, he was listening to Marketplace on National Public Radio. As host Kai Ryssdal talked about being in the Far East and using pedi-cabs as a method of transportation, inspiration struck.He put together a proposal, which then began making its way through the city’s review process. Earlier this year, the City Council gave Green Street the green light.

“We hope that what we’re doing can change the way some people in this town look at short-distance transportation. Because it’s really easy to get in your car and go to the grocery store, but the consequences of that are the continued consumption of fuels and all the things that always get beaten around in the news,” said Matt, 25.

By day, the Naperville residents work at their landscaping company, Oak Grove Gardeners. But at night, they drive one of their three pedi-cabs around downtown.

“As more things start to happen in the fall and on weekends, we’re going to start operating on the weekends during the day as well,” Brett said.

“This is the best part. It’s free,” Matt said. “We encourage gratuity, however at this time, we are not offering a fare in order to promote our services.”

Each pedi-cab sits two adults. Along with Brett and Matt, there is one other driver, Liz Shuter. Operating the cab is less about skill than it is about physical endurance, Matt said.

Each pedi-cab weighs 150 pounds. If you have another 300 pounds of passengers and add 150 for the driver, “you’re pushing 500 pounds when you’re pedaling,” Brett said.

At the beginning, they were exhausted.

“But not anymore,” Brett said.

While they don’t have any plans to add more pedi-cabs, they might add a different model that can accommodate more passengers for things like weddings. And they are working with Ghost Tours of Naperville to soon provide tours by pedi-cab, Brett said.

“The whole experience has been great,” Brett said.

1. Which do you use more often, car or bike? Matt: We tend to use our bicycles more for in-town travel. Our office is located almost at the corner of Naperville, Aurora and Plainfield, so we tend to drive to work. But when it comes to getting around downtown, I’m always on my bike.

2. What is the most unusual request or story you have? Brett: I had, last Saturday night, a father and his daughter that were downtown. (She was) maybe 5 or 6 years old, and they came from Cookie Dough Creations walking across Chicago Avenue. They were obviously dressed to ride a motorcycle. They both had their leather coats and their leather boots. And the little girl was just riding with Dad. And they both hopped on their motorcycle and talked for a while, then came over went for a ride with me. They had just done a motorcycle trip to Toronto, Canada, together. They were just a cool pair. That little young lady was — she was a cool little girl.

Matt: Probably one repeating theme is people want to drive it, all the time. We always get people who want to take pictures with it, or on it.

3. Do people call to make an appointment, or can you just hail a pedi-cab like a taxi? Matt: We’ve had great success with both. Our telephone number advertised on the pedi-cab is actually a cellular number, so if somebody calls it, and they see us on the street they can say, ‘Can you pick me up at Potter’s Place in a half hour and take me to my car?’ Or Jimmy’s. Or home, if they live close enough. So that makes up a much smaller percentage of our pick-ups than the impromptu, ‘Hey pedi-cab’ or ‘Hey rickshaw …’”

Brett: “…take us for a ride around town.” They’ll come out of a restaurant or bar and just want to go for a quick tour around Naperville.

4. Has anybody every yelled at you for driving slow? (the cabs move along at 9-14 mph) Brett: “No. We’ve been very pleased. That was also a question in my mind as to how traffic is going to react. And traffic moves slow enough downtown that I’ve never been honked at or yelled at … And actually, it’s motorists (who yell) “Hey cool!” and “Right on!”

5. Is there something you learned about downtown that you didn’t know before by driving the pedi-cabs? Brett: How energetic and lively downtown Naperville is at night. The energy that’s going on later in the evening, say past 11.

Matt: Between Main Street and Washington Street on Chicago Avenue, it’s just this constant pulsating sea of activity and people. It’s so great, and if you went by it during the day, you would have no idea. But from two people who have spent the majority of their lives in Naperville, it’s exciting to see. My dad could probably appreciate it a little more than I can, how downtown Naperville has evolved. Because really there are people that come from all over the suburbs that come to enjoy the festivities downtown.

Coastal Bike Cabs, a new pedicab service, begins operations here in
early June. Pedicabs are bicycle-driven pedestrian taxis that offer an
environmentally friendly alternative to short-distance travel.

“It’s a great way to see our island and visit restaurants and shops
while enjoying the fresh air,” says Betsy Palmer, owner of Coastal
Bike Cabs.

The decision to start a pedicab business stemmed from a love of the
outdoors and fitness, which is a definite requirement for drivers to
haul between 400 and 600 pounds of weight around the island at a pace
of 12 mph.

“It is great exercise for me and our other drivers and a fun
experience for our passengers,” says Palmer.  “Our colorful bikes and
friendly service add tremendously to the Ocean Isle Beach vacation
experience.  We aim to enhance the amenities and businesses on our
island with this cab service.”

Tourists in San Diego, Charleston, and Key West ride from restaurants,
bars, and hot spots in pedicabs and appreciate being able to avoid
crowded parking lots, drinking and driving, and noise.

“Although pedicabs are a new concept on Ocean Isle Beach, they have
actually been around in larger U.S. cities for many years,” said Dan
Werner, director of sales and marketing for Main Street Pedicabs, the
largest manufacturer of pedicabs in the United States.  Main Street is
the maker of the equipment used by Coastal Bike Cabs.

“Pedicabs started out in larger cities like New York, San Diego, and
Austin,” Werner said. “It’s only over the past several years that they
have really taken off in smaller areas.”

But pedicabs can be more than just a novel way for visitors to tour
communities.  Property Owners enjoy the convenience of a bicycle taxi
and the friendliness of the drivers.

“We are finding more and more that they provide a nice way for people
who are physically challenged or have trouble walking to enjoy the
outdoors in a way that a traditional taxi does not,” Werner said. “You
can really enjoy the scenery — see the birds — and feel the fresh
beach air and sunshine.”

“More than that,” Palmer says, “pedicabs operators will serve as
ambassadors to Ocean Isle Beach and will help promote restaurants,
stores, and services in the area.  We want to promote the community
and let visitors know about our history.”

Palmer envisions taking a lot of people to the Museum of Coastal
Carolina for the exhibits and for the free concerts on Fridays and
back and forth from bars and restaurants and to public beach access
areas.

“Our bike cabs will stay on the island,” she said. “I want people to
enjoy their stay here at Ocean Isle Beach and not worry about getting
picked up for driving under the influence.  They can just eat, drink,
and be merry.”

Coastal Bike Cabs will be available at island events, parades, and
festivals, as well as maintain a regular presence around Ocean Isle
Beach.  Passengers can hail a Bike Cab or call or email for a
reservation.

Palmer intends to operate both day and night throughout the summer
season and on weekends, holidays, and special events after Labor Day.
Coastal Bike Cabs starts offering services this week, generally from
9:00am to 3:00am daily.  The business’ grand opening is scheduled for
late June.

“I am really happy to hear that there is more bicycle-based
transportation at OIB,” resident and property owner Effie Vandoros
comments.  “It’s really a unique way to experience the community, and
I think it adds to the ambiance of our island.”

Groundskeeper Mike Griffith is among the one-quarter of Davis campus employees who bicycle to work. But Griffith takes it a step farther. Actually, he keeps on pedaling — after switching from his commute bike to his work bike.

Not just any old bike, but a professional-grade three-wheeler with heavy suspension, 21 gears and hydraulically operated rear disk brakes — and a custom-made cargo bed to haul his work gear, or loads of dirt and mulch.

“This is UC Davis-friendly,” said Griffith, whose 20-year career with Buildings and Grounds puts him smack-dab in the middle of a sea of bicycles every day as he rakes and prunes and sprays.

In switching to the work bike, Griffith voluntarily gave up his gas-powered cart — the ultimate in environmentally friendly gestures.“This is in line with the campus philosophy,” Griffith said. In fact, the campus sustainability committee awarded a $2,145 grant to help buy what Griffith calls a “human powered utility vehicle.”

Buildings and Grounds, Transportation and Parking Services, and Fleet Services also contributed to the purchase price. The total cost (not counting lock, brake lights and a bell, courtesy of the Bike Barn): $3,432, compared with $5,000 to $7,000 for a new power cart.

It was all Griffith’s idea. The UC Davis graduate — he earned a bachelor’s degree in managerial economics while going to school part-time and holding down his grounds keeping job — co-wrote the grant application, researched and test-drove the various work bikes on the market, and made the purchase.

“Mike is incredibly motivated about this,” said Cary Avery, grounds superintendent with Buildings and Grounds. “We are very proud of him.”

The bike arrived on March 4, and, so far, so good, Griffith said. “This bike will do all of the work that the other carts will do,” he said. The bike fits around all the bollards and gates that keep cars and trucks off various paths around campus, and the cargo bed can carry 600 pounds.

The bed is built on the same chassis that the Broomfield, Colo., manufacturer uses for its pedicabs. For the UC Davis bike, Main Street Pedicabs painted the bike and bed in Aggie blue, and affixed the Buildings and Grounds logo on both sides of the bed.

At Griffith’s request, the manufacturer cut down the sides of the bed to 16 inches, providing easier access. The bed also features a drop-down gate.

Griffith spoke with Dateline one afternoon last week while transferring a load of mulch from the cargo bed to a planter outside the west entry garage.

His duties also include trash pickup in the six-story garage — and that means pedaling up the ramps. “It’s a little more effort, but it’s not that bad,” he said. “This keeps me in shape for basketball.”

The work bike is also easy on his ears. “That’s the first thing I noticed — no noise,” he said.

“Also notable is the reduction in air pollution and natural resource consumption,” he wrote in a follow-up letter to the sustainability committee. “Additionally, the purchase cost was less than our gas-run work vehicles, the maintenance cost will be reduced considerably, and fuel cost will be zero.”

Griffith recalled that when he started with the grounds division in 1988, he used a handcart to haul his work gear, and some of his colleagues used wheelbarrows. The gas-powered and electric carts came later.

“Some people might think this is a step back,” he said. “But once you get on this, it’s not that hard.”

Griffith said he is getting a lot of positive comments from his co-workers — “a lot of thumbs-up” — and he hopes other departments take notice and consider acquiring work bikes if appropriate.

“It’s absolutely a step forward,” he said. “It’s not just about what it’s doing for the environment, but what it’s doing for my department’s budget.”

And maybe for the campus budget as a whole. Indeed, Griffith said, as he made progress on turning his work bike idea into reality, what began as an individual effort turned into a campus community project, “because of the number of people who freely offered their expertise and support to make this happen.”

“They deserve credit as well. I truly appreciate their help.”