Pedal Pushers: Hitting the Streets With Newport's Pedicab Service [VIDEO]

Traffic is tough during the peaks of tourist season in Newport. Cars crawl, bikes squeak by in the outer lanes, and trolleys wind their way to the city’s hot spots.

For the past six seasons, though, there’s been another player in the transportation game: Newport pedicabs. They're the oversized yellow tricycles with upholstered seats, with their sides covered with ads for the sponsor of the season. This year, they're sporting Landshark's name. 

The peddle-powered vehicles are popular, carrying people from cruise ships to mansions and from bars to cars. They’ve even been known to transport weddings around town.

According to the pedicabs’ guidelines, “Drivers must be able to pull 500-800lbs. for approximately 6 to 8 hours. In addition, as we all know the weather in New England can change at the drop of a hat, drivers must be tough and durable.”

Matthew Cameron, a new driver, said that because of Newport’s one-way street patterns, he may being going up hill for 8 hours a day straight. But he’s fit and enjoys the challenge.

Drivers do more than peddle their bikes, though. They’re unofficial guides and hosts of Newport. Visitors rely on them for good advice and, in some instances, even company. Young said people have asked him to hang out with them while they’re in town and pay him well to do it.

Each driver is an  independent contractor, which means that they use the bikes on their own, so they have a vested interest in the quality of the ride.

Owner Mike Kowalczyk stressed that fact.

“There are no set price for these rides,” he says. “People pay what they think the ride is worth, and that’s all the money the drivers get. They’re not being paid by the company.”

Who are these men of steel?

Sam Young, a history major at Salve who graduated this June, has been driving for the past two years. His friend, Zach Matook, used to work at a car parts warehouse in Massachusettes in the summer.

There is a downside, of course. Long hours and hard work can take their toll. Even chatting with tourists can get old at the end of the day. It takes a lot of dedication and drive to stick with the job, but the drivers say the rewards are worth it.

Would they recommend the job to others?

“Oh, yeah,” says Young. “It’s a great way to work out and make a living at the same time.”

Newport pedicabs operate through October this year. You can find them on the streets any time during these hours, or call for them at 401-432-5498. You can reserve cabs through their website at http://www.newportpedicab.com/

Download the movie