NEWBURYPORT — Kevin Murphy and Blake Harris want to offer you a ride around town — on the back of a bike, no less.
Though not your typical business partners — Murphy, 39, of Newburyport, is the executive vice president of UC Advantage and Harris, 17, of Amesbury, is a junior at St. Johns Preparatory School — the two have high hopes for their new business, Newburyport Pedicab.
The company, which will open in May, will use bicycle rickshaws — a bicycle that has a sitting area extending behind it — to transport people throughout the city and as far as the commuter train station and Plum Island.
“It’s starting in all the big cities,” Harris said. “I think Newburyport is a great city for it.”
Though Harris is just a teenager, the seeds of this business partnership started more than a decade ago when the two met in 1995 as part of the Big Brothers/Big Sisters program.
“We’ve been seeing each other at least once a week for 10 years,” Harris said.
Now, as a way to stay connected the two are launching their new company. But unlike many business ventures, Murphy and Harris don’t want to make great sums of money — at least not for themselves.
They say their goal is to provide Harris with the experience of running a business, provide fun alternative summer jobs for Newburyporters and to raise money for the Pan-Massachusetts Challenge, which benefits the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
For that reason, Newburyport Pedicab is being set up as a nonprofit business.
The drivers will work for tips, or “pay as you please,” as Harris describes it: if a person is happy with the service, they pay accordingly. Drivers will be paid and the rest goes to Pan-Mass.
Murphy, who has been riding in the Pan-Mass Challenge for years, got the idea from riding in the race on a tandem bike with his sister. He joked that he should just participate with a rickshaw and carry his sister for the 400 miles since she didn’t do much work on the tandem bike anyway.
Though they never did compete that way, Murphy said the idea to bring such a business to Newburyport seemed to fit perfectly. And even though riding in the Pan-Mass requires a rider raise at least $3,600, Murphy and Harris say this venture will raise even more.
“I’m pretty sure we can at least triple that with our bikes this summer,” Harris said.
City Councilor James Shanley, who along with the other councilors approved the business last week, said he’s raised a modest $6,000 or $7,000 for Pan-Mass. That’s why he’s so supportive of Harris and Murphy’s business plan.
“It’s a great thing,” he said. “I think it will be a lot of fun and I think it is something people will enjoy using.”
Particulars about the business are still to be worked out. For instance, the business partners say it will start in May and be available seven days a week, but they are still unsure about particular hours of operation. On weekdays the service may be available from 3 to 11 p.m. with extended hours on the weekends.
“We’ll work as much as the community will support,” Murphy said.
The two have already earned the support of the City Council and the Greater Newburyport Chamber of Commerce, and are now looking for local businesses to put advertising on the sides or back of the pedicabs — money which also will go to the cancer foundation.
Beyond another mode of transportation, Harris and Murphy says it will help alleviate parking problems in the city, will be great for elderly people who want to go on the numerous tours in the city but can’t walk them and lends well to the environmentally-conscience attitude of many Newburyporters.
Plus, they say it can be a form of entertainment.
“Not only is it a cab, it is entertainment,” Harris said. “We’re looking for drivers who can be enthusiastic and excited about Newburyport.”
“I think it’ll work,” Murphy added.
Why Pedicabs?
Improve visibility for outlying businesses. Pedicabs will travel to restaurants, galleries and other business outside of the downtown corridor.
Help to reduce parking burden. Pedicab will help carry people around city, freeing up more parking spots downtown.
Facility participation in events. It can be used for the garden and chocolate tours and for many other events.
Added jobs. Pedicab will hire local drivers.
Environmentally friendly. Bikes contribute no negative impact on the environment.
Source: Newburyport Pedicab business plan presented to the City Council
Blake Harris, 17, of Amesbury and Kevin Murphy, 39, of Newburyport are starting a nonprofit bicycle taxi business this summer. The two met as part of the Big Brothers/Big Sister program.Ben Laing/(Click for larger image)
