Cheap, reliable and environmentally friendly are not words typically associated with today’s gas-guzzling and pollutant-puffing automobiles. However, the latest Eugene city cab, equipped with four all-terrain tires, headlights, turn signals and even a horn, relies solely on the recyclable resource of human energy.
University senior Cameron Morris saw Eugene’s green mission as an opportunity to launch a business that focused on cleaner transportation, which led to Eugene Pedicabs, a taxi service that offers rides to people in a carriage on the back of a bike instead of in a traditional vehicle.
Cameron Morris and his brother, Reid Morris, started the Eugene Pedicabs company about a month ago when they saw an ad on Craigslist for eight bikes adjoined to trailers with seats called pedicabs. A man who had a pedicabs company in Seattle and Portland had an excess of pedicabs and decided to sell them in Eugene.
Cameron Morris didn’t let the opportunity pass him by. He purchased the pedicabs and has since reaped the benefits of bulging calf muscles and a little extra cash.
The Morris brothers are both avid bike riders and mechanics, so they knew they had the knowledge and experience to make their business a success.
For the past month, Eugene Pedicabs has been serving as a low cost energy alternative to taxi cabs. The company provides service to Autzen Stadium and the neighborhoods surrounding the downtown bars and music venues. Service isn’t limited to specified parameters, but the brothers generally operate in the campus vicinity.
“On game days, our most popular destinations are the campus area bars, but on the weekend we spend most of our time going back and forth between the “Barmuda triangle” and surrounding neighborhoods,” Cameron Morris said.
Cameron Morris is confident the pedicab service can offer more than just a mode of transportation — it can also offer a memorable experience. He said he is constantly meeting new people while getting a workout and having a whole lot of fun.
“I believe that we present a fun and environmentally-conscious alternative to the standard taxi cab,” Cameron Morris said. “The majority of our riders are students that rely on cycling for their primary mode of transportation and are excited to find a job doing something they enjoy. We try to provide not only transportation, but an experience you won’t find within a taxi.”
University junior Jasmine Rose caught a ride to the football game a few weeks ago with Cameron Morris. She said she and some friends saw a few pedicabs on the side of the road on East 13th Avenue the morning of game day.
“We needed a ride to Autzen, they had wheels, it was a no-brainer,” Rose said. “It made for a fast and fun travel experience; I would take a pedicab over a taxi any day. We got to enjoy the scenery, crisp fresh air and those peddlers work their butts off.”
And that’s something the Morris brothers can attest to.
“As far as riding, I’ve ridden until I was absolutely exhausted, probably had the toughest physical workouts I’ve ever experienced,” Reid Morris said.
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