I feel your pain

All you pedicab owner-operators, let me just say, "I feel your pain" when it comes to finding insurance.

We've been on the hunt for insurance for our new pedal cab operation, Colorado Rickshaw Company, and it's been UGLY! The options are limited, for sure, and the costs, restrictions and exclusions are all over the map. In recent weeks I've gotten a real education in a subject I didn't want to know that much about.

From what we hear from operators across North America, insurance is the biggest issue they face. Drivers may be the biggest hassle, but overall, the biggest concern is insurance.

There just aren't a lot of options. The coverage offered by some providers is questionable. Unfortunately, in order to operate, a lot of companies buy whatever is cheapest and still meets the requirements. They may think they're covered, but are they really?

I don't claim to be an expert in insurance, and I'm not going to tell you which insurance policy to buy, or which providers are the best. It really depends on your own particular circumstances, how your business is structured, and your tolerance for risk. What I can tell you is that there are significant differences in policies from one provider to the next.

Here are some questions you may want to ask before you plunk down a large chunk of cash:

• Has the insurance you're considering ever paid a claim? If so, what were the circumstances?
  
• If you report an incident, even if it never becomes a claim, are you charged a reporting or research fee?
  
• What is included and what is excluded?
  
• Is the insurance based on claims made or occurences? Either may be okay, but may require different reporting procedures, and the total deductible may change. (For example, if three passengers in an accident each file a claim, the deductible may apply to each passenger rather than the entire incident, thus tripling your out-of-pocket expense.)
  
• If a driver has an incident but doesn't report it, are you covered?
  
• Is there a deductible? If so, do you have enough in reserve to cover it?
  
• Are the drivers covered, or just the passengers? What about damage to the cabs or other property like cars?
  
• If you have a manager, assistant manager, or mechanic, what is their coverage under the policy?
  
• At what point does this insurance take over? Some policies only cover expenses in excess of those covered by motor vehicle or health insurance.
  
• Are the pedal cabs covered for damage, fire or theft? Does that coverage apply to street use, storage, or both?
  
• Is coverage limited to a specific geographical area like a city, county or region? Or can you take your cabs to an event like an airshow or car race outside of your general footprint? Does coverage extend to transport to or from an event?
  
• Is there an age limit for drivers?
  
• If the policy requires a "clean driving record," what does that mean? If someone gets a traffic ticket after they're approved, what happens?
  
• Are there any benefits for having safety equipment like lights and seat belts?
  
• Are there any benefits for having a training & street monitoring program in place?
  
• Do you have the ability to increase or decrease the number of cabs in your fleet?
  
• Is anything else included in the coverage like legal fees, etc.?
  
• Can you review a copy of the policy before you buy?
  
• If you change to a new insurance provider, are you covered by the original provider for incidents that happened while you were insured by them?

Other things to consider when choosing your insurance coverage are:

• Do you have written reporting procedures in place?
  
• Have you put into place any other systems to limit your liability?
  
• What are the driver's responsibilities in an incident?
  
• How well are your cabs maintained, and do you keep records?
  
• If your drivers aren't covered by your business insurance, do they have any other coverage in place like regular or catastrophic health insurance?

It takes time to evaluate your options. Plan to start looking for new insurance 4 to 6 weeks before you actually need it. Since pedicab businesses are still a nontraditional industry and there aren't any actuarial tables yet, brokers often need time to gather all the information required by the underwriters.

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.

Do you (pretend to) care?

I read this post this evening and it got me thinking about how caring and not caring relates to pedicab drivers. (Hmmm... for some reason, most of what I read makes me think of some aspect of pedicabs.)

Does caring make a difference in the number of rides, size of tips, or just plain enjoyment of the streets if you care, or at least pretend to care?

And what exactly do you care about? The people on the street? The safety of your passengers? The experience of riding? Or your take at the end of the shift?

And, as Seth Godin suggests in this post, does pretending to care lead to actually caring? Does it make a difference?

Pretending that you care
Seth Godin 4/27/08

I spent part of the day in New York yesterday.

First stop, an expensive sporting goods store that prides itself on service. I bought some skates, paid and then asked the security guy (the one with all the shelves behind his desk, where people check stuff they bring in) if I could leave my stuff there for ten minutes while I ran an errand.

"No, I'm really really sorry," he said, "but we can't take responsibility and I'll get in big trouble if I do. I know it's a hassle for you..."

I left and did my errand. A little later, on my way back to the car, I had one last street to cross. Suddenly, a motorcade of 20 police cars, sirens roaring, whizzed by, blocking the crosswalk and making me miss the light (if anyone knows why NY City cops are suddenly doing this a lot, please let me know. Where are they going? Why? If it's an emergency, why don't they go faster?).

As I waited for the cops to go by, I watched a meter guy walk up to my car and slowly start to write me a parking ticket. I was being penalized for being a good citizen and waiting for the endless motorcade!

I ran up and begged.

He turned to me and said, "I'm so sorry. I know what a hassle it is, but once I press this yellow button here, I have to finish. But I bet if you go to court and complain, they'll waive it." Then he reached into his pocket and handed me a lollipop. "Thanks for coming to New York, and I'm sorry."

Except this story isn't true.

The guy at the sporting goods store just grunted at me. Explained it wasn't his job and just dared me to return the skates I had just bought. And the meter guy didn't even bother to acknowledge me or make eye contact.

No, you can't always hire exceptional people for these jobs. No, you can't always invest enough time to train them sufficiently. But yes, you can make, "pretending you care," a barely acceptable alternative.

It doesn't take much to take the edge off an encounter.

[Boy does this sound cynical. How inauthentic! How manipulative! Isn't it better to just hire people who actually care? Of course it is. But as far as I can tell, that's a lot harder than it looks--because so many organizations are organized around policies, not caring, and because so many employees have been trained not to care.

So, the essence of the lesson here is this: if people start out pretending to care, next
thing you know, they actually do care. They like the positive feedback and they like the way being kind makes them feel. It spreads. It sticks.]

For operators, how much do you care? How hard is it to find drivers who actually care? How can you tell? Do you bother to screen for drivers who care, and if so, how do you do it?

Too Far, too much, hah!

Good day Pedicabbies!

It has occurred to me that I haven't contributed in awhile. In perusing the latest spring commentary about 'cabbin, a few things have come to me.

Well, the time to get angry about uninsured drivers is over...for now. LETS MOVE ON!

Ding...Ding...Ding...Ding...

What is a good night of pedicabbing? For my 4 years doing this job, I have seen countless types, maneuvers, and drivers all try to figure out what it is that attracts them to the streets. I think about my experiences, and it seems that the one job that has been steady for me in the last for years is riding a pedicab! I have done it full time, part time, and seasonally, and had a foray into establishing the highest pedicab company in north america. It must be said that drivers come and go. They start and stop for a variety of reasons. Continue riding.

Why do I come back? It has to do with the kooky cycling mind that you can see on http://www.sheldonbrown.com. RIP, Sheldon.

I get out there and approach whomever I can who I think I can get into my cab. I have been turned down, rejected, and even laughed at. The secret, whether you like it or not, pedicab success comes from inside, with a crazy pair of legs, and a bit of a self-gratifying tendency to hustle. My secret: get as many rides as possible.

It doesn't matter (oh, it actually does, but for sales philosophy sake) if they pay you. It matters in the all important quotient of jealousy of other drivers. Not to distrust, but other drivers or people do not know if you are charging or willfully giving out Karma. Think about it. Truthfully, the weather, the cold, the rain, the snow, it wears a person. Just ask the Peloton of the Tour of California. If you love it, it isn't suffering, right?

Are you motivated by money? By fun? By the intoxicating and smelly downtown streets? All of the above are valid reasons.

How far? Hell, I will use the standard "If you pay me $50, I'll drive you in my car, to where you need to go." I have seen this work, and the driver collected $60. Out here, anything is possible. Everyone wants a story. Would I take someone 5 miles away? Sure. Price is crucial in this transaction.

You must negotiate price, and be ready for some heavy spinning. Do what you think you can handle. The customer will not know the difference unless they have pedicabbed before. To us, we are the few. We are cyclists, gluttons for punishment, but albeit, fit to the bone. And we can negotiate. But negotiate on price. What you do as your habits are up to you. Just don't ruin it for the rest of us.

I SAID SPINNING, NOT PETTING! Sex is a strange motivator, lets me honest. However, being invited to party, do shots, or go and hang out; it doesn't matter. It is my choice to stop. But, most sexual commentary is a part of the job. Really, I turn it down as puffery. I have yet to meet my perfect wife on the pedicab streets. Come to think about it, I have lost 3 relationships because of this job. Nothing I did, I assure you. I just happen to love bikes.

I have to say, publicly, that the urban velo article captures pedicabbery. It is more than a job. It is an extension of freedom, cycling, hard work, ear-to-the-ground socializing and a great study in human behavior. A strange mix of self-sales, bouncer, EMT, minister, bartender, cowboy, an undercover police officer, a marketing guru, and proclaimed superman. Not to mention a bit of a gambler. Trust me, superman, or woman is what being in the saddle is all about.

I propose the establishment of a pedicab cycling team. Cycling season has started. Riding a cab is some of the finest interval training one can get. Better than riding a 55X12 track bike. I am working on getting a track bike, but what beats the pedicab?

I am notorious for wanting to race whenever I get in the saddle. Anyone have any thoughts about a jersey? I think a nationwide presence of pedicab representation would be great! I have raced in Minnesota and Colorado, under the auspices of Mountain pedicab company, AKA Team Pedicab. With cycling season starting, for those interested in road racing, track racing, mountain bike, off-road triathlons, or really just the prospect of establishing a pedicab race at some point, I want a team. We are capable of such a thing.

This is what I can come up with right now. I bid the with happy cycling, and the prospect of a non-snow covered street, and non-existent slush.

Arigato.

beefsteak.

Pedicabbie experience after dark

This is a fantastic article written by a pedicab driver in Columbia, Missouri, and published in Urban Velo. I am only posting an excerpt of the article with a link to the rest, but I just think it gives such great insight into his experience, that I encourage you to read it in its entirety. Definitely go to the original article to read it and check out the great photos. Thanks, Johnny in Columbia, for such a thoughtful article.

Pedicabs After Dark (excerpt)
By Johnny Tarr

While the pedicab itself is humble, a ride on it is amazing in contrast. A three-hour shift makes the whole day perfect. I adjust the seat, check the lights, and then the moment I roll off the lot I’m Superman. This must be how it feels to command a kingdom, or walk on water. Traffic treats me royally. Everybody waves back. The cab itself is an eye-magnet that makes its riders instant celebrities.

I feel people on the sidewalks getting excited as the cab rolls down the street, so I invite them on. Some folks hop right on, exclaiming how I’ve come at just the right moment, but some potential riders need convincing. They might give nonsense excuses about how they’re only going two blocks, and surely that’s too near or too far. Or the mothers, bless their hearts, say that they would feel terrible about making me work. Nothing but a show of machismo beats that fallacy, so I tell them I’m the strongest man in Columbia. They don’t really believe me but that’s fine because I believe myself and that’s the important thing, so they get in anyway.

Read the entire article at UrbanVelo.com...

Raleigh Rickshaw crew

Check out this great photo of the Raleigh Rickshaw crew!

Thanks for sending the photo, Donald. We're looking forward to seeing you in Raleigh at the 4-day Pedicab Training at the end of March.

10News Investigates Dark Side Of Pedicabs

10News Investigates Dark Side Of Pedicabs - 10News Investigations Story - KGTV San Diego

This story sparked quite a discussion on Rickshaw Forum recently. There's a debate in the industry about whether or not it's legal to have J-1 students as drivers. In our opinion, foreign exchange students on temporary J-1 work visas cannot be independent contractors in business for themselves. They must be employees, and most pedicab operations do not have driver employees. Somehow, some pedicab companies manage to work the system and "hire" J-1s. I'm curious as to how, exactly, they do that. Do you know? Do you think it's legal to have J-1 drivers in your crew?

Q: What makes a "Good Night" of pedicabbing?

When our drivers come in after a long night in the saddle, we often ask them "So, how'd ya do?" It's interesting the variety of answers we get to that simple questions -- all on the same night! One driver will say "Oh man, it really sucked," while another will tell us "Wow! I was rockin' and rollin'!"

So what does it for you? What determines whether you had a good night or a so-so night or a mediocre night or an all-out bad night?

Is it the money? The number of rides you got? The people you met? The fun you had? The adventure you went on? What is it?

Happy Valentine's Day Pedicabbies!

A quick note to our drivers to tell them (and everyone who reads this blog) just how much we LOVE and APPRECIATE them!

We probably don't tell them often enough what an awesome group we have right now. So this is it.

Thanks to each and every one of you!

Q: How do you spend your pedicab dollars?

People drive a pedicab for so many different reasons. For some, this is their full-time gig and the money they make goes to pay for expenses like rent, utilities, food, etc. Some are competitive athletes who use the money to support their adrenaline habit, paying for race fees, equipment and trainers. For some drivers, the money they make pedicabbing is just play money; extra money they can use to travel, party or buy new toys. Some look at a pedicab an emergency fund; the money tree they can go to whenever an unexpected expense comes up. Some don't really care so much about the money; just tossing it in a jar and deciding what to do with it later. We're not all motivated by the same things, and don't drive pedicabs for the same reasons. So what's yours?

What do you do with the money you make driving a pedicab?

I realize this may be too personal a question for some and may challenge your comfort zone. That's not my intent. I'm just curious about how pedicabbing fits into your economic scheme.

One More Time

This post appeared on the Pedicab Yahoo Group. Very well written observations by Billy O in Phoenix. We have and still are experiencing some of the same issues in Denver, for now on a smaller scale. We hear about similar situations from other operators across the country.

All of us are judged by each of us.

The whole industry was given yet another black eye over the last couple days in Scottsdale during the Super Bowl parties.

Raiders from San Diego showed up.

I know that not all San Diego riders are like the ones who were most visible out there last night. And I know we have riders here in Phoenix who are just like the San Diego people who so completely and thoughtlessly came in to rape and run at this event.

They say "we just charge what the market will bear". Except the effects of their charging 20 and 40 bucks a head plus tip will linger long after they have left here. And the ripples of gouging go outward from here to affect the entire industry, all cross the country.

They say they have the right to charge 80 bucks for a ride because it cost them so much to get here, and they have to eat, and pay for hotel rooms and gas on top of lease. So its okay to gouge the people attending a major event, because, you know, the people are here to spend money anyway.

Its okay because even after being told that nobody gets to run in Glendale because the City has decided to protect itself from predatory pedicab practices, its okay to go to a nearby city and give yet another city a reason to ban human powered ransportation.

Its okay to crowd the doorways of events, to jam as many rigs as possible as close as possible to the security checkpoints because the cops let it happen.

Its okay to cut in front of lines that have been formed by the people who got there first because the well mannered people with an eye to the future will refuse to start fist fights at the event as a way to enforce fair operational practices.

Its okay to do hit and runs in parking lots and in grid locked traffic cuz you'll be gone in a day and theres no way to get caught when the cops are so busy.

Its okay to do whatever you can get away with because tomorrow never comes.

I know that not all San Diego pedicabbers are like this. Not all of them act like they were trained by the old bike man limo company. And I know that we have people here in the Valley who act like that too. The worst of human nature is not confined to any one geographical area.

All of us are judged by each of us. The true soul riders, the professionals, will be invisible when seen next to the raiders who think the whole world is their own private toilet.

The single biggest threat to the human powered transportation industry is some of the all too human people doing it.

with huge regret and great sadness

sincerely,

Billy O

If you're not already a member of the Yahoo Group, sign up and read the comments. Just go to yahoo.com and search for "pedicab" under groups. Very interesting.

A follow up comment:

the Police and the Property Owners find it much easier to just ban all of us rather than try to take the time to find out who is professional and who is predatory.

The one about the Pedicab.

Six Until Me: The one about the Pedicab.

We had scheduled to bring EXIST to a media conference in NYC last night. Chris was already in the city for the day, so I worked at dLife and then hopped the train to New York.

The train dumped me off at Grand Central Station and I made my merry way to the concourse, happy that I at least knew what direction to go in. It was 6:19 pm and the conference started at 6:30. I was right on track to be fashionably late.

Texted Chris: I’m here. Just getting a cab and I’ll be to you in 20 minutes.

Walked out onto the bustling sidewalk. Roads were closed due to the UN summit, so there were even more people spilling out than usual. Horns beeping. A man dressed as a piece of pizza shoved a flyer in my hand and hollered (to no one in particular), “Everybody loves pizza, man!” I walked towards the corner of the street, heels clicking, fashionably late … very Mary Tyler Moore of me. Started humming “You’re gonna make it after all.” Raised my arm to hail a cab, for the first time in my 27 years.

No one stopped.

Maybe I wasn’t out far enough. Maybe they couldn’t see me. Raised my hand again as a trio of cabs ripped by.

Hmmm. I am clearly doing something wrong here.

There was a police officer standing about 30 feet away from me. I walked over to her, keeping my eyes locked on the gridlock for an empty cab.

“Excuse me?” The cop turned around. “Excuse me. I need to catch a cab. Would I have more luck on another street, because of the roads being closed?”

The cop looked me up and down.

“Would have helped if you wore a skirt.”

“Excuse me?”

“A skirt. A skirt would help. Next time wear a skirt. But good luck finding a cab tonight – roads are closed, it’s rush hour, and everyone is looking for a cab. Cross your fingers, miss.”

Feeling more and more like a country mouse, I stepped back to the curb and scanned the road for cabs. A man with luggage and a cell phone walked up beside me.

“Waiting for a cab?”

I nodded.

“Good luck with that. It’s crazy in this town. I’m just in from San Francisco and I’ve been waiting for ½ an hour for a cab to stop.” My eyes widened. I heard a bell ring.

“Hey lady! You need to get somewhere fast?” A voice called from the street. Out of seemingly nowhere, a bicycle cab/rickshaw peeled out next to me and a tall, skinny man leaned off his bicycle and shot me a craggy grin.

Oh for crying out loud.

“Yes, yes I do. Can you get me to The Puck Building? Off Lafayette?”

“No problem. 52 blocks from here. Gonna cost you $60. Hop in.”

It didn’t look safe. It was an updated version of a horse-and-buggy outfit, only instead of a horse pulling the cart down a country road, it was a skinny guy with an almost-beard toddling through Manhattan traffic. I shouldn’t do it. And sixty bucks? I definitely shouldn’t do it.

“Okay.” I climbed in. He buckled me in like it was the Scrambler at the fair and off we plunged into the sea of buses, town cars, and cabs that didn’t want me as a patron.

Texted Chris: I’m on my way. I’m in an f@*&ing bicycle rickshaw. This is my life. $60.

I have never been so scared in my life. This skinny man rode like he was rally driving, weaving in and out of traffic, skimming by the sides of buses, pitching wildly in potholes, and occasionally pointing out the scenery.

“Lady. That?” He pointed, taking both hands off of the handlebars and causing my heart to almost stop. “That’s a very beautiful art exhibit. It’s so nice. I like art.” We came about six inches from rear-ending a Mercedes. “You like art, lady? You been to the city before?”

The wind blew through my hair and I clutched the side of the seat for dear life. “NO!” I yelled, hoping these words wouldn’t be my last. “BUT I LOVE ART! I REALLY LOVE ART! AND LIFE! I LOVE LIFE, TOO!”

Texted Chris: I may die in this thing. I love you. Don’t forget to feed the cats.

“Hey lady! I take pictures. You like pictures?” He didn’t wait for a response. “I would like to take your picture. I have a nice, Polaroid camera. You like to have pictures taken?”

“NO THANK YOU, SIR! I WOULD JUST LIKE TO GET TO THE PUCK BUILDING, THANKS.”

“Okay. I take good pictures, though.”

Life continued on for 30 harrowing minutes. We finally turned on to Lafayette. My hair was enormous. My cheeks were wind-whipped. My knuckles were white from hanging on for dear life as he pedaled furiously down Manhattan streets.

He cut through a gas station, crossed between three buses and another bicycle cab, and drove up the sidewalk, to the very base of the Puck Building. People were staring. We skidded to a stop.

He rang the bell.

I unbuckled myself from the cab and he took my hand, helping me from the cart as though I were some sort of Disney royalty. It was 7:15.

“Thank you very much, sir. Here’s your money.”

“No charge, lady.”
“What?”

“No charge. You can’t look that scared when you’re waiting for a ride, though. Someone might take advantage of you! You seem nice, lady. Where I am from, we are nice to our women and we make sure they are safe. No charge.”

I handed him a twenty dollar bill and shook his hand.

“Thank you very much, sir. It’s been quite an experience.”

He jerked the bike back onto the street. “The subway is probably more scary than this. I see you next time, okay?” And off he went, towards some semblance of a sunset, but most likely within two inches of the bumper of a bus.

Texted Chris: I’m here. My hair looks a fright. People in New York aren’t as mean as I thought. I may make it after all.

Thanks, Kerri, for the great story about your adventures in a NYC pedicab! Very funny! It's good for us pedicab people to be reminded of the passenger's experience behind the driver.

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!

Greetings from Austin, and "Are Pedicabbers Terrorists?"

Pedicabbers,

I have been asked by Greg of Mile high to contribute to this blog based on my experience with blogging and my outlook on the pedicab industry.

For reference, you can check out my other active blog at http://austinpedicab.org. I am trying to keep it more locally focused issues that affect the Austin Texas region. I see Pedicabblog.com as having more of a national or international focus.

One thing that has been missing in the AustinPedicab (Austin), PedicabNews (NYC), and the
PedicabBlog (Denver) is discussion about the differences and or similarities between pedicabbing in different cities and regions.

I'd also like to discuss the social place of the "Western" pedicab driver as compared to that of the "Eastern" pedicab driver.

One interesting tid-bit of recent news on this topic was that a Filipino who had been "posing as a pedicab driver" was arrested under suspension that he is a terrorist.

The group that he is accused of being associated with the Abu Sayyaf group is said to have ties to Al Quieda. He is accused of being involved in the beheading of 10 Filipino Marines.

My questions are these:

1. Do disenfranchised, underground economies give cover to extremists?
2. Are American pedicab drivers potential terrorists?

Perhaps the odd chacters that we see in the Austin pedicab community just like being independent contractors instead of employees. What ever the case, we all know that "Eastern" Pedicab Drivers can kick some ass.

A Happy Holiday to you all!

A Happy Holiday to you all!

The holiday season is upon us, which in some schools means significantly more money, and for others it means an increase but not a huge one.

My blog today consists of part two to "selling the freakin' ride." As it is the holidays have approached, (remember Denver does not close for the winter), we have all anticipated a bit of holiday cheer even the Carolers, trumpeters, and our favorite ever-improving bagpiper.

I came upon a fellow driver the other day, who was a consistent driver, and on the job for about 6 months or less. This driver has been coached and taught over these months, and has seen the chaos of our favorite sporting venue at Invesco Field. It was a bit cold this particular evening in question.

I rolled up to a great looking couple of girls and asked them if they wanted a ride. He was busy adjusting himself, and I didn't realize that I may have taken his ride. The situation came awash anyway, as your humble hero was rejected. It seemed that the driver was busy doing something else. Nevertheless, I felt badly about potentially taking his ride. But, it comes to another point in our everlasting question of how to sell the ride.

I know that some drivers have different styles. I know that some haphazardly approach people for a ride, while others wait for the ride. What is the best way of executing and maximizing your profit in the pedicab world?

My opinion (albeit, strong) is that the more number of potential rides you approach and take, the greater your profit will be. I had a situation that further proved that one cannot be afraid of taking the ride. It has become increasingly colder at night, with wind, in the Mile High City. As everyone grumbled about how slow it was, number of rides this night: 21. Number of free-holiday cheer rides: 5. Thus, $150 dollars later, on a $250 night is tough. But, nights like this, calls for some hustle. A local horse-carriage driver said "why are you working so hard- the whole night, I haven't seen you stop!" Here is your lesson. Unless you are lucky enough to get the golden ticket of $500 bucks, some nights are just slower than others. But, it may not behoove you to work just as hard. It pays off. If for nothing else, it absolutely makes you more than able to kill your friends on a weekend mountain-bike trip.

Our fellow driver approached and said "I had some guys try to tell me that X location was only 3 blocks away! I quoted X price and they turned me away." I interjected: "Yeah, but as slow as it is tonight, having one ride is better than none." He readily agreed.

Pedicabbers, in the Summer and Winter, it doesn't change- it is certainly effort that changes, but on a Summer night versus a winter night, all is possible.

I may suggest getting a hand counter- just for your own statistics. It gives you a little gauge of effort. In leaner times, the hustle is important. In times of Summer, it is wonderful. But, as I said, take the good with the bad.


Happy Holidays, and Happy hustling.

beefsteak.

Well, how do you sell the ride?

In the near recent past, we have noticed a problem with selling the ride. This little gem of a blog isn't teaching anything or spitting on different methods of selling the ride. It does, however, examine the not-so popular ways of getting your passengers into the cab.

1. "I'm going to sit on this comfortable vinyl seat with my feet on the seat." This is the ultimate lazy salesperson. They seem to think that if they look bored enough, some poor sap will sell their ride for them, or some disabled passenger will do anything for a ride.

I have some news: Sitting on your arse, looking bored doesn't sell the ride whether 20,000 people flow out of given stadium, or the occasional stumbling drunk asks for your assistance. The truth is, that with this job, you have to *gasp* work. You may have to talk, you may have to stand up, or you may have to actually sell the ride for another poorly trained dorko, who thinks he (or she) is a pedicab driver.

2. The "cell phone ride." Nothing angers your vets more than trying to sell a ride with the cell phone or bluetooth, ipod, or any other handset-electronics in your ear. Especially in the front of the line. You aren't techno, you aren't efficient, I think you just think that people will want to talk to you, have a conversation with you, or even give you money for your services in good faith, with you having something obviously better to do- like listen to your ipod. Please, don't fall into this category. It makes you look dumb.

3. The "ding-dong" ride. You know what I am talking about...Ding-Dong...FYI- I should enlighten you- no one rides because you ring your bell or honk your horn and not say a word. In fact, they are more annoyed with you because you are doing nothing but using a non-assertive voice to sell the ride.

Just the other day, I had some pudwacker try to tell me that by talking to potential business that I was scaring business away. Which leads me to:

4. "I know this job is easy and you owe me a ride, because I am transportation out of chaos." Folks, we encounter this kind of arrogance and idiocy because truthfully, some riders seem to think that the higher the prices, the less the number of riders, the better the business. Drivers, owners, and otherwise, please do not fall into this trap. This philosophy is dumb. Talk as much as you can, and I guess, annoy the front of the line enough to make it move.

5. The "overcharge." We all know the dicks that will charge far too much to milk the customer. Just because they will pay for it, would you like to keep good faith with passengers or use them for their money. All, I must say, you will always have the morons who overcharge. Don't overcharge, police your lines, and sell the ride. Those who are overcharging will only be jealous if you can move a line and they can't. On a recent Sunday, I made about 20 trips. The Sunday before that, 30 rides. I made money doing it. The fact is that the more rides you get, the higher your return...that is...if you aren't willing to work that hard.

6. The "carnie" ride. We are not carnies. In fact, Google "Carnie" and see what comes back. We don't want our passengers to step right up on Sunday...Sunday...Sunday. We don't ask you for your tickets or money. We are in the transportation business. We serve a valuable purpose. We move people. But don't treat the passengers like a piece of cotton candy or a hot dog. They are people and need to go somewhere. Get them there with style, skill and integrity. But you are bound to annoy them with your carnival-freakshow style. Ask them if they want a ride. If they tell you no, there must have been a reason. Eye contact and a direct address is all anyone wants.

7. "Water-Cooler Talk" If you are at the front of a line, sell the damn ride. Don't converse or flirt. It only takes one interested person ask price. If you aren't ready, then you lose the potential for that Unicorn ride. Folks, please, sell your rides. If you have to beg, borrow, or underbid, go for it. just sell the damn ride in the front of a line. Don't price gouge. Just sell it. You will return for another when the rest of the line is still standing there.

Happy selling!

beefsteak

Q: What do you do when you've lost your mojo?

Can you help this driver get his mojo back?

A couple weekends ago, we met up with a very frustrated pedicab driver on a busy Friday evening. The last few times he was out he really struggled to get rides while everyone else was rockin' and rollin'. He wanted a discount on his rent because he wasn't doing well.

He'd been pedicabbing off and on for almost a year, but hadn't been out regularly in recent months. Whenever he did ride, he complained about the condition of the cab he was riding, pointing out every little squeek and rattle. When he first started driving he rocked, but it seemed he'd lost his mojo. Some new bills at home and fewer hours at his regular job made him more desparate to make money on his pedicab. It seemed the harder he tried, the fewer rides he got.

What would you do with this driver? What would you tell him? Would you give him a discount? Have you had a similar experience? Can you help him get his mojo back?

I'll tell you what we did later on, but first I want your opinion. Please click on comments below and tell us how you would solve this mojo dilemma.

Pedicabs in the Denver Business Journal

Pedicab business is on an up cycle
Denver Business Journal June 29, 2007

The content of this article has been removed at the request of American City Business Journals, Inc. and bizjournals.com. To read it, you can follow the link above.

Q: Why did you get into this?

Everyone has days or nights that don't go so well. Maybe you're not feeling up to being on your bike -- no stamina, strength, or just plain blah. Maybe everyone you talk to says no, or you're not getting the fares you want. Maybe it's too hot or too cold.

At times like that it can help to remember why you got into pedicabbing in the first place and what your expectations were then.

Did you want to meet new people, get in shape, be outside? Was it the challenge? What was it that got you interested in pedicabs? What made it fun, exciting, interesting? What got you out time after time? I know it wasn't just the money because there are lots of other ways to make money.

Why did you start driving a pedicab?

Q: What's your favorite energy drink?

Energy drinks like Red Bull and Monster are a pedicabby's best friend -- especially during a long night in the saddle. When the Monster marketing truck or Red Bull sample carts roll by, drivers can be seen chasing them down the street like kids after the ice cream man.

When I go into the gas station, I'm blown away by the number of choices. Personally, I like a a local, but hard-to-find, energy drink called Go Fast. Maybe you prefer coffee or juice, tea or Gatorade.

So this week, I want to know. . .

What's your favorite energy drink, and why?

What gets you going and keeps you going? Any particular flavor you favor? There are so many choices these days, what would you recommend?