When losing control on a bicycle, it’s almost instinctive to take your feet off the pedals and put them on the ground to keep your balance. On a pedicab, that doesn’t work. The seat is significantly higher so the average person’s feet will just dangle.
The first time you try to drive a pedicab, this happens a lot. A bicycle with a wheeled, chariot-like, two-person seat attached, a pedicab is similar to a tricycle. But definitely not the tricycle you had when you were 3. Because of the size, tilting wheel and back-heavy nature of a pedicab, it almost feels like you’re trying to operate a combination of bike pedals and car tires. It’s tricky to learn, even for an avid cyclist like Tyson Neukirch.
“Your body is confused,” he said. “When you’re on a bicycle you’re using your abdominals to balance. When you’re on a tricycle, your body tries to do the same thing but it’s not necessary because it’s a triangle.”
A University senior and director of the Service Learning Program, Neukirch was in the process of starting a pedicab service in Eugene when he found out about the Pedal Junkies, a donation-based duo who started driving their pedicab around town in April.
But in early May, days after a story about them ran in the Emerald, the Pedal Junkies had their operation shut down by the city.
According to section 3.345 of the city code, “No person shall operate a pedicab for business purposes on city streets or bike paths without first paying the required fees and obtaining a permit therefore from the City.”
Pedicab operators must have valid Oregon driver licenses, prominently display their permits, and comply with all traffic laws and weight limits.
According to city code, public passenger vehicles – a term which includes cars, and horse and carriages, as well as pedicabs – need appropriate liability insurance. The Pedal Junkies, despite being donation-based, also needed to have a business license.
“(They’re) actually accepting money,” said Eileen Moran, the city’s business license coordinator. “There is an expectation that they will be getting money from people.”
Wayne Beckwith, one of the two founding Pedal Junkies, said, “(The city was) stoked on it, too, but they wanted to make sure we were up to code and safe and legal and respectable.
“Through everything, Eileen has been very nice and very helpful. She just said, ‘This is the regulations.’ I wasn’t aware of the regulations. I thought that since we were doing it for free and on donations, it was fine.”
Since his last appearance in the Emerald, Beckwith has been acquiring the proper licenses and meeting with city officials. As of Monday afternoon, the Pedal Junkies are once again up and running.
Beckwith said that being aware of the rules, he’s no longer going to load the cab with people.
“As far as hauling five people around town, it’s not going to happen anymore,” he said.

Pedicab passengers will be limited to two with a maximum of “two people and a baby, or two people and a dog.”
With a new job doing bridge inspections, Jerad Porth, the other founding Pedal Junkie, is frequently out of town. Serendipitously, Neukirch, who has always wanted to drive a pedicab, met Beckwith through a mutual friend, and has been picking up passengers in Porth’s place.
“Tyson’s idea and outlook on this thing is so in line with mine and Jerad’s, it’s perfect,” Beckwith said. “He doesn’t care about making a lot of money; he just wants to break even on his cab. He wants to provide this service to the community and make sure it’s super safe. It’s like he takes things out of my brain and says them back to me.”
While pedaling people all over town can be tiring, Neukirch finds being a Pedal Junkie refreshing: a stress release, a workout, and a good way to explore and meet lots of new people.
“I went from being tired, exhausted to being alive, and happy to be able to provide that service to the community,” he said. “People can tell what you’re about, and what we’re about is making this a viable part of the Eugene community.”
Like Beckwith and Porth before him, Neukirch has also been tipped with food. One passenger, after being dropped off at home, told him to wait a few minutes. He came back outside with a peanut butter and honey sandwich.
“(A friend) was like, ‘I don’t have any money.’ I said, ‘That’s completely fine, I’m excited just to give you a ride.’ … He got off and was like, ‘I promise, I’m going to make you an amazing feast sometime soon.’”
With two Broadway models on order from Colorado-based Main Street Pedicabs, the Pedal Junkies are looking forward to expanding, hoping to have a fleet of pedalers by the time the track and field Olympic trials are in Eugene June 27.
“We’re here for Eugene and we’re here for a good reason, maintaining our goal and our mission and following through on our words – that’s key,” Beckwith said. “People need to stop smiling and waving, and get the heck in the cab. The more the merrier.”
[email protected]