California News

CBS2-KCAL - 1 hr 16 mins ago
CBS2-KCAL - 1 hr 23 mins ago
NBC 4 - 1 hr 30 mins ago

Multimedia News

Ironman World Championships
8 photos
Chrissie Wellington, of Great Britain, winner...
Women getting it done
20 photos
Anti-government protesters occupying the grou...
Female sluggers on the court and stump
20 photos
Russia's Vera Dushevina returns a shot to Ser...
LA and Philly battle for the pennant
20 photos
Justin Maiuro of Mantua, NJ, shows off his Ph...
PETA gets naked and bloody again
16 photos
Partially clothed protesters seen with taped ...

Bicycle cabs take flight in Washington

Apr 26, 2007 1:50 PM (535 days ago) by Melissa Frederick, The Examiner
This story ranks Not ranked
Related Topics: WASHINGTON
Alex Lesiak bikes around Mark Eckert who is visiting the Washington, D.C area from California.
(Andrew Harnik/Examiner)
Alex Lesiak bikes around Mark Eckert who is visiting the Washington, D.C area from California.

WASHINGTON (Map, News) - Bicycle taxis in D.C. seemed like a risky bet last summer when DC Pedicab entered the Washington marketplace. But the company is now gearing up for a second season of providing novelty transportation throughout the District and soon will expand its fleet of vehicles.

A group of three friends - Ryan Guthrie, John Zielke and Ian Zabor - founded DC Pedicab last July. They thought the rickshaw-like bicycle cabs, popular elsewhere, would be a unique alternative for sightseeing tourists or late-night bar hoppers.

The firm grew during the year, Guthrie said, then closed up shop in December as the weather chilled. It is beginning shifts now with the return of the warm weather. It has a team of 12 drivers and will expand its vehicle fleet from six to nine this season.

The cabs operate in Adams Morgan and Dupont Circle and around the monuments. Its two major sources of customers are tourists tired of walking, but still eager to sight see, and residents amused by the idea after a night at the bars.

This story continues below
Advertisement

A ride on a DC Pedicab will usually cost a customer $5 per 10 minutes per person, plus tips, Guthrie said. So far the firm has had the pedicab market to itself.

Workers take two or three shifts a week - the job is too physically demanding for more, Guthrie said. Employees include college students hoping to make extra cash, lifelong bikers who enjoy the exercise, and former couriers and messengers.

Working for the company is an adventure, according to Tony Smith, a junior and architecture student at Howard University who's been with DC Pedicab since it started. Drivers have been asked to race and take off their shirts.

"I had one guy pay me about $50 just to let him sit on my cab and hit on girls," Smith reminisced.

Melissa.Frederick@DCExaminer.com

Add a Comment


Name: (required)
Comments:
characters left
Comments are regulated by the Terms of Use.

There are no comments available.
Advertisement