Of all the interesting careers a Toledo resident can pursue, riding a bike with a cart attached and payment only in tips is not a common one. But, is it a fruitful, rewarding job? Yes, said Maxwell Austin, owner of Glass City Pedicabs.
Austin's experiences with pedicabs started years ago in San Diego. While pedicabs are a popular form of transportation in many large cities, they were not a common sight in Toledo until Austin came here.
Doing what you love
Moving to Toledo, Austin gave up pedicabs and to work as a bartender for a time. But, he missed the exhilarating experience of being on a bike.
“I really hated punching the clock when I'd been the boss for years,” Austin said.
A few fellow pedicab riders whom Austin had befriended in San Diego moved to Lansing, MI shortly after Austin relocated to Toledo in 2007. With them, they brought pedicabs, and it was at the Old West End Festival when they had the idea to give Austin a pedicab so he could start a company in Toledo.
“'You ought to do this downtown on Adams Street', people told me,” Austin said. He also had many people interested in driving pedicabs. Eventually, his pedicab fleet grew from one to six, and he now employs up to 20 people during warm-weather months.
Austin took it a step further and formed the Atlantic Pedicab Fleet, a coalition of Midwestern pedicab companies. With this coalition, pedicab drivers from many different companies can work together at high profile events, such as the electronic music festival, Firefly Festival in Georgia and the upcoming country music festival, Birthday Bash, in Michigan.
At your service
With tuxedo T-shirts and complimentary champagne, pedicabs are also a big draw for weddings. “I think I'm pretty professional for a guy in a tuxedo tee-shirt,” Austin said.
Last year, Austin’s pedicabs provided rides locally at 12 weddings—a number he hopes will grow in 2015.
Another popular place for pedicabs is around Fifth Third Field, after Mud Hens games. Instead of baseball fans having to pay $20 for parking or hiking three miles to their car, pedicabs wait at the entrance and offer rides to game-goers.
“As adults, we don't get a chance to feel silly.” Austin said. “But, on a pedicab, I'm free. And when you ride in the back, you're free too.”
Look for Glass City Pedicabs in the metro area this spring. 419-309-3780, glasscitypedicabs.com