Need a ride? – Sequestration Job

[eminva]

I had to ELITE this post because although your new ride does not involve white bar tape or any other ELITE trappings, you will be making money riding your bike, which even most ELITE riders don’t do.

Congrats on the new gig! Hope it goes well.

Liz

[brendan]

Hmm… “Sequestration Century”, anyone?

[Mikey]

@brendan 47171 wrote:

Hmm… “Sequestration Century”, anyone?

Not a bad idea for a fund raiser – I’ll offer $20 rides around the tidal basin during the cherry blossom season with a hefty portion of each ride going to WABA?

100 miles in a pedicab would be interesting.

[DismalScientist]

@essigmw 47168 wrote:

I think I’ll offer a $5 discount on any ride to forum members.

Do forum members need to share the pedaling?

[cephas]

@essigmw 47168 wrote:

Thanks to Congress, I will have a little time on my hands this spring and summer – Every Friday. but life gives you lemons, right?

Announcing my sweet new Sequestration Gig – I am now a licensed pedicab driver. I will be taking fares around the tidal basin and the mall. I’ll be easy to spot: I’ll be the one in the Bike Arlington scarf. I think I’ll offer a $5 discount on any ride to forum members. Romantic ride to see the cherry blossoms anyone? I’ll probably be the only Pedicab making pointless loops around Hains Point.

From out of many
Rose the one rider
To ride all by pedicab
Friday it’ll be, he says.

And the pedals revolve
As the government slows
The brake pads wear thin
Dust has covered them

Dusting himself off
Rose the one rider
To ride all by pedicab
Friday it is, he says.

Be there.
Don’t scare.
Ride easy.
Ride hard.

Sit back and relax
As there’s risen a driver
To ride all by pedicab
Friday it is, they say.

After looping Haines Point
And back again to the city
Rally the cycles
And again we road on.

[bobco85]

@essigmw 47168 wrote:

Thanks to Congress, I will have a little time on my hands this spring and summer – Every Friday. but life gives you lemons, right?

Announcing my sweet new Sequestration Gig – I am now a licensed pedicab driver. I will be taking fares around the tidal basin and the mall. I’ll be easy to spot: I’ll be the one in the Bike Arlington scarf. I think I’ll offer a $5 discount on any ride to forum members. Romantic ride to see the cherry blossoms anyone? I’ll probably be the only Pedicab making pointless loops around Hains Point.

What’s the process you had to go through in order to be licensed and/or get the pedicab itself? Is it expensive? I ask because 1) I want a pedicab because I think they’re so cool, 2) it may be a weekend-job idea that I’d like, and 3) I’m a nosy person.

[KLizotte]

I look forward to hearing your tales of what it is like being a pedicab driver. I presume they require a lot more hard labor to move those things up the slightest of hills, esp when fully loaded (I’ve seen four adults in a two-seater on occasion).

You should be able to make lots of money when the cherry blossums come out.

[Mikey]

@bobco85 47299 wrote:

What’s the process you had to go through in order to be licensed and/or get the pedicab itself? Is it expensive? I ask because 1) I want a pedicab because I think they’re so cool, 2) it may be a weekend-job idea that I’d like, and 3) I’m a nosy person.

I contacted one of the fine Pedicab rental companies in the district (D.C. Pedicabs). I signed a independent contractor agreement with them (which allowed me to get access to pedicab rentals, and the required insurance to pass DC/NPS rules). I submitted an application and $100 to the NPS permit office (on Hains Point) and the next day got my license (Commercial Use Authority) to pick up fares on NPS property. Lastly, I did a shop briefing, and road test on one of the bikes to prove my worthiness.

My first day will be April 1st. I hope to pick up a few opening day fans. I’ll keep you posted on the results.

[Arlingtonrider]

It’s awesome that you’re doing this – you’ll be a great ambassador for bicycling and for family bicycling too! Lots of tourists will be asking you about it and you’ll have a captive audience. Do you have a primary pick up location planned yet?

[dasgeh]

Just throwing this out there so you won’t get in trouble: have you cleared the outside employment with your ethics office/current employer? Each agency is different, but you might want to double check to be sure. At ours you have to fill out a form before doing anything else for money. Acceptable things are approved quickly.

[bobco85]

@essigmw 47312 wrote:

I contacted one of the fine Pedicab rental companies in the district (D.C. Pedicabs). I signed a independent contractor agreement with them (which allowed me to get access to pedicab rentals, and the required insurance to pass DC/NPS rules). I submitted an application and $100 to the NPS permit office (on Hains Point) and the next day got my license (Commercial Use Authority) to pick up fares on NPS property. Lastly, I did a shop briefing, and road test on one of the bikes to prove my worthiness.

My first day will be April 1st. I hope to pick up a few opening day fans. I’ll keep you posted on the results.

Thanks for the info! At the moment, it’s in the back of my mind as a viable weekend fun-job, but really I want to get a pedicab so I can take my family (i.e. nieces) around town, as my nieces’ parental units do not approve of any bike trailers (I’m working on getting them to have bikes at all), so that’s out of the question.

[brendan]

How often do you need to re-up on the rental agreement and permits?

Brendan

[Mikey]

@brendan 47334 wrote:

How often do you need to re-up on the rental agreement and permits?

Brendan

I think the rental agreement is fairly top level , so It doesn’t need to be redone. The permits expire after a year.

[Author]

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