pedicab/cargo-bike to make a living in North America?

I recall reading an article in _Mother Earth News_ a number of years
ago which claimed that oxen are the most cost-effective way to till
farms of less than 5 acres

Five acres is a mighty small farm. I doubt you could grow enough food
to keep one ox alive on 5 acres (not including the owner).

Austin

Pedicabs have become quite common in midtown Manhattan, for about a
year.

wrote:
anyone in North America earns their living with a pedicab or
cargo-bike?

On 4 Jun 2005 02:36:50 -0700, wrote:

anyone in North America earns their living with a pedicab or
cargo-bike?

The closest thing that's common is the bicycle courier, a job which
exists in most larger cities. Such couriers are used for fast
delivery of documents and small items between offices in the central
business districts of such areas. Cargo bikes used for transport for
hire are essentially unknown in the US. Pedicabs exist in a few
tourist-heavy locales, but once again, they are generally rare.
--
Typoes are a feature, not a bug.
Some gardening required to reply via email.
Words processed in a facility that contains nuts.

Werehatrack wrote:

On 4 Jun 2005 02:36:50 -0700, wrote:



anyone in North America earns their living with a pedicab or
cargo-bike?



The closest thing that's common is the bicycle courier, a job which
exists in most larger cities. Such couriers are used for fast
delivery of documents and small items between offices in the central
business districts of such areas. Cargo bikes used for transport for
hire are essentially unknown in the US. Pedicabs exist in a few
tourist-heavy locales, but once again, they are generally rare.


Funny. From the responses here it sounds like they are all over the
place (albeit, only where there might be tourists).

--
*****************************
Chuck Anderson • Boulder, CO
http://www.CycleTourist.com
Integrity is obvious.
The lack of it is common.
*****************************

wrote:

20 years ago when I was in college I worked for a while giving pedicab
rides here in San Diego, at Balboa Park (great way to meet women). You
could say I made a living but I didn't have many expenses back then.
The owner of the business seemed to do well.


20 yrs ago I worked one of those pedicabs at La Jolla cove one night.
Rented it for $15 and took in $15.40, and the bus ride to the cove
cost me $0.85, so I lost $0.45. Someone bought me a beer though. And
the blond working the other side of the street took in $80.

Next time, I'm bringing coconut shells and a wig.

dkl

Mon, 06 Jun 2005 17:20:02 -0600, ,
Chuck Anderson wrote:



Funny. From the responses here it sounds like they are all over the
place (albeit, only where there might be tourists).

If you've not seen it, this is a beautiul book describing the many
variations of cargo and passenger trikes.

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/journeys.../rickshaws.htm
--
zk

On 4 Jun 2005 02:36:50 -0700, wrote:

anyone in North America earns their living with a pedicab or
cargo-bike?

Not if you're doing the pedaling. Do the math. How many hours per
day do you have to pedal x how much per hour do you think anyone will
pay?

If you own a bunch of pedicabs and pay students minimum wage to pedal
them... maybe.

If you want to make the big bux, buy a fleet of Segway's and rent them
out. You can charge $40 per hour and every one you have will be out
for as many hours per day as you care to hang around waitng for them
to come back.

There's no pedaling. A small trailer will store and transport several
segways, plus a generator to charge them if there's no local outlet to
plug into.

You can hit beach areas, trade shows, state and county fairs, etc.

numbnutz numbnutz writes:

On 4 Jun 2005 02:36:50 -0700, wrote:

anyone in North America earns their living with a pedicab or
cargo-bike?

Not if you're doing the pedaling. Do the math. How many hours per
day do you have to pedal x how much per hour do you think anyone will
pay?

If you own a bunch of pedicabs and pay students minimum wage to pedal
them... maybe.

If you want to make the big bux, buy a fleet of Segway's and rent them
out. You can charge $40 per hour and every one you have will be out
for as many hours per day as you care to hang around waitng for them
to come back.

There's no pedaling. A small trailer will store and transport several
segways, plus a generator to charge them if there's no local outlet to
plug into.

You can hit beach areas, trade shows, state and county fairs, etc.

Please don't.

(PeteCresswell) wrote:

Per numbnutz:
There's no pedaling.

Was riding into Philadelphia PA last weekend and encountered a
fairly-heavy guy pushing a Segway and sweating fairly profusely.

Stopped out of curiosity to commiserate a little, found out that this
was his chosen form of exercise - and that pushing one of the things
actually charges it. I guess he pushes it so far outbound and then
rides home...

Instead of buying a Segway, he should have bought a lawnmower. Not only is it
1/20 the cost, but he could get paid $20/hr for doing essentially the same
thing!

Matt O.

Per numbnutz:
There's no pedaling.

Was riding into Philadelphia PA last weekend and encountered a fairly-heavy guy
pushing a Segway and sweating fairly profusely.

Stopped out of curiosity to commiserate a little, found out that this was his
chosen form of exercise - and that pushing one of the things actually charges
it. I guess he pushes it so far outbound and then rides home...
--
PeteCresswell