Trixi.com
18-04-2005, 10:37
http://news.bostonherald.com/siteImages/business_adlogo.gif (http://business.bostonherald.com/businessNews/view.bg?articleid=79003)
By Kerry Purcell
Monday, April 18, 2005 - Updated: 02:36 AM EST
Street pedalers are on the move in Boston.
A new company, Boston Pedicab, is hoping to gain ``60 (percent) to 70 percent'' of its revenue from advertising on slow-moving, fully enclosed and environmentally friendly bicycles.
In business just a month, Pedicab owner Ben Morris estimates his drivers have given more than 250 rides already.
`I saw there was a niche in the market that I could fill,'' Morris said.
It's not the quickest way to get around.
But Morris wants to cater to the tourist market.
"We offer a unique experience with open air rides that move slowly so people can take in the sights and see things you wouldn't see on public transportation,'' he said.
Boston Pedicab offers a romantic evening package, chartered rides, and is looking to add more bikes as the year progresses. ``I'm gonna keep buying them (bikes) - as many as the city can handle,'' said Morris. ``I'm working with the city for licensing. I didn't want to get out there without doing things right.''
Competitive prices were quoted as $1 per block but in our historic city of one-way streets, that could be difficult to peddle.
"My drivers are getting it down. We are setting up standard fares from different hotels to different locations,'' Morris said.
The lead pedal-pusher has 11 employees and is looking to acquire 14 more drivers to tackle the physically demanding job. Based in the South End, Morris serves as dispatcher, by Nextel, to his five bike jockeys around the city. His pedalers span the Hub but won't go to Cambridge, below the South End or west of Kenmore.
http://news.bostonherald.com/siteImages/business_adlogo.gif (http://business.bostonherald.com/businessNews/view.bg?articleid=79003)
By Kerry Purcell
Monday, April 18, 2005 - Updated: 02:36 AM EST
Street pedalers are on the move in Boston.
A new company, Boston Pedicab, is hoping to gain ``60 (percent) to 70 percent'' of its revenue from advertising on slow-moving, fully enclosed and environmentally friendly bicycles.
In business just a month, Pedicab owner Ben Morris estimates his drivers have given more than 250 rides already.
`I saw there was a niche in the market that I could fill,'' Morris said.
It's not the quickest way to get around.
But Morris wants to cater to the tourist market.
"We offer a unique experience with open air rides that move slowly so people can take in the sights and see things you wouldn't see on public transportation,'' he said.
Boston Pedicab offers a romantic evening package, chartered rides, and is looking to add more bikes as the year progresses. ``I'm gonna keep buying them (bikes) - as many as the city can handle,'' said Morris. ``I'm working with the city for licensing. I didn't want to get out there without doing things right.''
Competitive prices were quoted as $1 per block but in our historic city of one-way streets, that could be difficult to peddle.
"My drivers are getting it down. We are setting up standard fares from different hotels to different locations,'' Morris said.
The lead pedal-pusher has 11 employees and is looking to acquire 14 more drivers to tackle the physically demanding job. Based in the South End, Morris serves as dispatcher, by Nextel, to his five bike jockeys around the city. His pedalers span the Hub but won't go to Cambridge, below the South End or west of Kenmore.
http://news.bostonherald.com/siteImages/business_adlogo.gif (http://business.bostonherald.com/businessNews/view.bg?articleid=79003)