A new pedicab company is starting up this week and in preparation for the launch, partners Rock and Roz Doyle made a pitstop over to Mixology Buffalo this past weekend to demonstrate the state of the art rides. These custom cycle rides are as eye-catching as they are luxurious - hence the brand name Pedillac. "We're going to be working with the local shops and restaurants in order to encourage people to support more places in our commercial districts," said Rock Doyle. "So far the businesses are really interested in the concept. We're talking about offering free rides to customers who are heading to businesses that we're working with, as long as business owners help to defray the costs. Most of the time we'll be out being a taxi service though. We will be charging rates (to be posted on Facebook) according to time and distance. We'll be servicing wedding parties, events such as Party for the Parks, park 'n rides, and when we're not booked R and R will be out on the road looking for customers."
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So far there are two state of the art pedicabs in the 'fleet'. Each cab is equipped with a sound system, comfy seats (room for two) and a fold down canopy. "We took one of the cabs down Elmwood Avenue on the way to Mixology," Roz Doyle told me. "And on the way people were yelling and asking how much it was for the service. I think that there will be a lot of people interested in this. There's nothing like this around here. It helps with parking issues, it's green, it helps to alleviate drinking and driving, and it's fun. There's monthly advertising space on the back. The cabs make for great photo ops too. We can decorate the cabs for events and special occasions - who wouldn' want to arrive at an event in one of these?"
Personally, I love seeing these types of initiatives launched in Buffalo. The pedicabs look sharp and create ton of interest. In the end, they are fast and efficient and help to create a lively scene in commercial districts. I'm hoping that the operation takes off so that R and R can acquire more cabs in order to dedicate them to special events without depleting from the commercial routes. Who knows... if the pedicab company is a big success, there are so many directions to take it down the road. Next stop... R and R Trolleys?
Great to see more bicycle entrepreneurs in Buffalo. Though this was tried before, a few years back... Buffalo Bike Taxi, I think it was called?
I saw one of these in Chicago bringing fans to the Cubs game. I bet these folks would be kept very busy ferrying people from the cheaper parking lots to Sabres games. (Assuming Buffalo Place doesn't decide to squash this at the behest of their parking lot owners.)
If Buffalo Place squashed it they'd be nuts.
This is an excellent idea, and you could really make a killing if you set up hubs and start taking people from Hertel to Delaware Park to Elmwood to Allentown to the Harbor. Discount for all five stops. Goldmine in the summer, considering the potential for repeat customers and the disposable income in those areas.