Pedicab stories are a weekly feature in Newburyport

Newburyport Pedicabs is sharing stories in a weekly column titled "From the Driver's Seat" on Newburyport Today. Congratulations on this great promotional opportunity for your business and the pedicab industry around the world.

From the Driver's Seat - Newburyport Pedicab Musings

Newburyport Today is pleased to be able to bring our reader's the comments of Newburyport Pedicab driver Paul Kelly. This is Paul's 3rd season, and he has been kind enough to agree to share his experiences with us.

"Swan Boats are gliding across the waters of the Boston Public Garden, tulips and ice cream stands are opening across the North Shore, and Pedicabs are once again circling the streets of Newburyport. Yes, spring has arrived in New England. Ease back into the rhythm, I tell myself – start with a light cruise up State Street to get your legs under you again. But the hail goes up – “Pedicab, pedicab …” – my first passengers of the night, my first passengers of the season. It’s a couple of young ladies, Rebecca and Lucy, and their dates. The guys talk the gals into going for a ride, and then promptly hop out leaving the girls, blushing, on a ride of their own. The lighter load is OK by me! I’m glad I kept working out at the gym over the winter, but I probably could have used a few more sessions on the stationary bike. (BTW, names have been changed to protect the innocent, or the embarrassed.)

Why do we drive? For me, it is people. Newburyport Pedicab contributes to the Pan-Mass Challenge, which in turn is a fund-raiser for the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. So in a small way, I am reaching out to those that have been touched by cancer – the survivors, those no longer with us, their families and friends, people I have known, strangers I will never meet. And there is certainly the camaraderie with the other drivers; for many of us, this is our third year pedaling together. But it is also the people that I meet on the street, the connectedness that blooms from the chance encounters. Like the guy that has given up his car and bikes around town for errands and recreation; we admired each other’s wheels. Or the owner of a new wine bar, opening soon next door to our cab garage. And the couple for my final ride of the night, visiting from, of all places, Portsmouth, NH. During the course of conversation, the husband and I discover that we both had worked for the same company many years ago, a very large company; we never crossed paths until now. Yes, spring has come again to Newburyport – it is going to be a good season.

Ciao!

Paul Kelly (in photo above) spends some of his free time pedaling at Newburyport Pedicab where all profits are donated to the Pan-Mass Challenge. To schedule a ride with Paul, call 978-465-1496.