Next Time, Hop a Rickshaw Two cycling pros bring transportation alternative to C'ville
Sometimes, it’s the offbeat idea that ends up working.
Ian Ayers (Engr ’04, GSBA ’09) and Christoph Herby (Col ’05), friends and professional cyclists, wanted to trade the rigors of the international racing circuit for a more laid-back cycling experience. During one of their long training rides around Charlottesville, their home base, the two brainstormed about the perfect job. Not surprisingly, all their ideas involved bikes. One scheme made them brake: a rickshaw business. Its practicality, efficiency and sheer greenness seemed like a natural choice for a bike-friendly, progressive town like Charlottesville.
"I learned a long time ago that bikes are positively good in every way," says Ayers, a student at the Darden School of Business. "That’s why we called our company Happy Rickshaw, because there’s nothing bad about a bike."
With the help of angel investors (i.e., family), the two alumni bought four rickshaws and "hired every bike-friendly guy and gal we could find and put them to work," says Ayers. The fleet took to the streets in September 2006.
There’s no doubt that it is hard work; Charlottesville’s hills make sure of that. As a result, the Happy Rickshaw crew is small but dedicated, with a roster of 15 to 20 mostly college-age cyclists. "It takes a special kind of person to sit on a two-inch saddle for five hours," Herby admits.
Several nights a week, the pedicabs prowl the Corner and downtown area, frequently weaving past traffic stuck in gridlock. As gas prices continue their record climb, the appeal of a mode of travel that burns only calories—and about half a pound of carbon dioxide a day from a driver’s exhalations—is hard to beat. Cab drivers, their would-be competitors, roll down their windows and cheer them on, says Herby.
The rickshaws also stand ready at football games, special events and concerts at the John Paul Jones Arena. During graduation weekend, they ferried about 500 people around town to different venues.
The three-wheeled specialty bikes are equipped with safety lights and powerful disc brakes and can carry up to three passengers. The drivers dictate the fare, which is based on various factors, including distance, number of passengers, hill ratio and driver mood.
Ian Ayers (left) and Christoph Herby, co-owners of Happy Rickshaw |
Many passengers don’t have a destination when they hail a rickshaw; they simply want to enjoy a leisurely ride in the open air. Sometimes, though, it takes cajoling to get people to try it. Therein lies one of the mental aspects of this business, says Ayers. "You’re out there, you’re on your own, and you have to break the ice with people," he explains. "A driver can be out there for 45 minutes and not get a bite, so you have to create a lively personality."
Recalling the early days of Happy Rickshaw, Ayers and Herby say they weren’t sure what kind of reception this novel transportation alternative would get. "We were on Rugby Road with these big, funny-looking tricycles," Herby says. "We were either going to be embraced or laughed at. As it turned out, students really embraced us."
In fact, rickshaw-riding is now on the list of "100 Things to Do Before Graduation."
For more information, visit www.happyrickshaw.com.
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