Oxford’s first pedicab service, Rebel Pedal, created by an Ole Miss student, is on its way to establishment this fall.
Pedicabs, bike-driven carriages, have never been seen in Oxford and require city ordinances to be written and approved to accommodate the unique traffic and business requirements.
Owner Ryan Seidl and his lawyers plan to present the proposed ordinances to the Board of Aldermen Oct. 21 and begin business two to three weeks after its approval.
“I’ve spoken with city officials,” Seidl said. “They thought it was a great thing and think it will go well with Oxford’s new go-green programs.”
The cabs hold three passengers at a time. They can travel anywhere in Oxford, as long as their routes do not go past Highway 6 or Kroger on University Avenue.
Seidl plans to have two pedicabs active by November and add two more cabs by the spring semester. Pedicab operator training has already taken place in Illinois for Seidl and his first drivers.
Future pedicab operator, Matthias Everette, completed training in August. He said he is ready to see the response Rebel Pedal will draw from the people of Oxford.
“I think they will respond well, because it is such a different thing for Oxford,” Everette said. “I hope people will see it around and become interested in it because it is so new to the city.”
Seidl said he got the idea while visiting family at a college in South Carolina. He said that while visiting, they took pedicabs to the downtown restaurants and bars.
Once he became a student at Ole Miss, he saw an opportunity for the same mode of transportation here.
Kat Andrews, sophomore forensic chemistry major, said she would be interested in the service.
“I would take a pedicab from the Square — it’s cute,” Andrews said. “Especially if it is cheaper than a regular taxi.”
While a definite fare has not been decided, Rebel Pedal’s fares are intended to be competitive with local taxi fares, according to Seidl.
Seidl plans to secure pedicab parking on the Square outside of Oxford’s busiest bars.
He also intends to use the cab as an advertising tool by asking companies to buy squares of space on the car part of the cab.
Seidl said he wants his drivers to be knowledgeable about Oxford’s history as well, so that the passengers are provided with some sort of entertainment and commentary along the ride.
“The way I see it, if I never took a shot, then I’d never know if it would become a success,” Seidl said. “I’d rather try and fail, than not do anything.”
A website was recently created to promote the service. More information can be found at www.rebelpedal.com.
