As Tallahassee’s downtown slowly revitalizes itself, a local family business is poised to take advantage of that increased activity. That business is heading into its third year with big dreams for the future and is an enterprise that’s literally a father and son operation.
“This is Ron Goldstein with Capital City Pedicabs, the supreme commander of the fleet,” “And Mike Goldstein, Capital City Pedicabs’ creative services director.”
Fleet Commander Ron Goldstein said the idea for the business actually came from a trip ten years ago.
“We were on a family vacation up in New York City in 2005 and came upon a taxicab drivers’ strike,” he recalled. ‘So after traveling several blocks walking we came across a pedicab unlike mine, because it was a driver with seven additional seats so it was like an octopus. All eight people pedaled and got to their destination.”
Goldstein kept that experience in mind after returning to Tallahassee and his job at the old state department of Management Services. Then he was named to the Gaines Street Revitalization Commission.
“Being of a mindset to create a pedestrian-friendly area in town, I thought the idea of the pedicabs, which I’d experienced and having lived in Tallahassee since 1989 and seen a lot of change, I felt it was a great opportunity. Again that was 2005 and we launched in 2012.”
Mike Goldstein said the operation has grown steadily to its current size.
“(We have) seven pedicabs,” he said. “The drivers get tired but the pedicabs don’t, so it’s great to have a rotation of people who can pedal them and not just have them sit there.”
Ron Goldstein says the present drivers, most of them in their twenties, are part-time employees. All fully capable of piloting a 21-speed tricycle framed mountain bike towing a 185-pound carriage, plus passengers. As well as having a certain something extra.
“So we seek out drivers who have that enthusiasm like we do for Tallahassee and we truly believe that our drivers are ambassadors for the city.”
And he said the business, while still somewhat seasonal, has grown steadily. Much of that growth he attributes to the many connections Capital City Pedicabs has forged with other businesses and organizations in town.
“The fact that we really view ourselves as being a green events support company, more so than just a regular transportation company from point ‘A’ to point ‘B’. We’ve done a number of weddings, we’ve done some progressive birthday dinners, different types of things where again we’re like the traditional horse and buggy company but without the horse or the ‘byproduct’.”
Mike Goldstein believes the firm is on the verge of a big breakout.
“I think people are becoming more aware of us and more open to the idea of the pedicabs and it’s just really starting to take a life of its own to be honest. It seems like it’s about that time now.”
As for the future, Ron Goldstein keeps thinking back to that octopus-like pedicab his family first hailed in New York City. The Tallahassee version of that is already in the mockup stage.
“(It’s) basically a bike-bar, which is between two units. One would be a ten-seat and the other a 16-seater that people will actually as a group pedal and our driver will be responsible for braking and steering.”
But that’s still in the future. For now, you can check out the firm’s web site: www.capitalcitypedicabs.com and can also look for them pedaling around town.