New Operation and Opportunities in Denver

If you didn't notice it in the Westword article posted on April 24, the word is officially out... After managing the day-to-day operations for two and a half years, Teri and Greg have parted ways with Mile High Pedicabs. The separation wasn't pretty, but it was inevitable.

That's right. We're happy and free and launching our own elite fleet of cabs in Denver: Colorado Rickshaw Company. We waited to announce this on the blog until the paperwork (insurance, license, etc.) was completed. We're now rocking and rolling on the streets of Denver and nearby neighborhoods.

We've wanted to expand our business, but the constraints of our relationship with Mile High kept us from moving forward in the direction we wanted. With encouragement and support from operators, drivers and other associates, we're now pedalling our own rickshaw on our own trail.

Thanks to everyone who listened to and advised us. You know who you are.

Compared to our previous management, our initial fleet is fairly small; just 5 pedal cabs. But we have the experience and resources to grow when and how we choose. We've realized that bigger isn't always better. Greg is happy to have the time and energy to be out on the street as a driver again, since that's what he loved in the first place!

Colorado Rickshaw will provide rickshaws for special events, weddings, and tours in addition to transporting passengers at sporting events and around the downtown area. Our focus is on superior customer service, professional business practices, and continuing to support and promote the rickshaw industry.

We established City Cycle Logic (City Cycle Lodging in the Westword article) when we moved into our new facilities last year. Manging over 20 cabs and over 50 drivers never allowed us time to fully develop the concept. In additional to rickshaws, CCL will house green businesses and organizations in a central hub in downtown Denver.

We've formed our own pedal media company: Smart Ads Media. We're selling advertising on rickshaws and arranging events not only in Denver but in cities across North America. If you need help getting advertising on your cabs, or if you're interested in placing your brand on pedicabs, please contact us.

We will continue to provide training and consulting to new and existing operators through Big Tree Pedicab Management and Pedicab University. In fact, you will likely see more in this area of our repertoire.

Things have been pretty hectic over the past few weeks, but progress is being made. We'll keep you informed as we continue to press forward.

Video: Rickshaws add to evolving downtown Raleigh

I've been meaning to post this for awhile. Unfortunately, Blogger Beta doesn't seem to want to allow me to post anything with javascript, so you'll just have to visit the WRAL web site or the Raleigh Rickshaw web site to see this fabulous video.

This news piece was produced and aired during Greg's trip to Raleigh for our 4-day Operator's Training at the end of March. It was totally unscripted, but everyone, including the passengers, managed to say all the right things. (When did Donald become a ventriloquist?)

It's an awesome free commercial! Doesn't get much better than this.

Nice guns, Brian!

Care Bears in a Pedicab

WARNING! Not for the faint of heart or stomach! You and Tenderheart Bear ride a pedicab around Times Square and end up at Toys-R-Us. The view kinda sucks since most of what you see is the left side of a brown bear head. This is very very long, so you probably won't watch the entire thing. Be ready to hit the mute button.

Which are you?

In his blog, Seth Godin asks the important question: "Which are you?" It's much better to be a "the" than an "a". Are you A pedicab company or THE pedicab company? Are you A pedicab driver or THE pedicab driver? Wherever you are and whatever your profession, strive to be THE, not A.

Pedicab butt

Every pedicab driver knows that someone is always looking at their butt. This one showed up on YouTube! Whoever you are, I hope you got a big tip for this!



I have to admit, I like the nice butt of a pedicab driver myself. If you watched the Tour de France, you might have noticed that sponsors now have advertising on the riders' butts. What a great idea! Any pedicabbies willing to do the same? I'll be happy to sell the ad space. Send me a photo!

Pedicabs put a face on furniture

Allsteel Cycles Around NeoCon Attendees

The environmentally-friendly vehicles shuttled attendees to and from the fair and around downtown Chicago.

Is it a bird, a plane? No it’s, a pedicab, scooting around the idea of energy efficiency at contract furnishings showcase NeoCon’s World Trade Fair in Chicago. The dozen brightly-colored, human-powered vehicles are a repeat performance from furniture manufacturer Allsteel, which first presented the concept last year.

Attendees to the fair flagged down the open-air pedicabs to earn a free ride in and around the Merchandise Mart, to and from the fair from the downtown area. In addition to providing environmentally-friendly transportation, the vehicles reiterated Allsteel’s 2007 NeoCon theme: “Inspiration requires a breath of fresh air.”

“Once again, we tried to see to it that NeoCon attendees had the opportunity to arrive or depart this year’s trade fair in style,” says Brandon Sieben, Allsteel vice president, marketing.

"In addition, we hope that Allsteel’s pedicab ambassadors all helped put a human face and emotion with our brand—one that relayed our progressive, yet innovative, culture.”

“In Allsteel has showrooms in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, New York, San Francisco, Santa Monica, and Washington, DC.