Student's pedicab service helps Northgaters get around conveniently

Lending a ride
By: Clair Lavender

If you've been to Northgate lately, you may have noticed a new set of wheels on the street. For the ladies that regret wearing heels, the weary that had one too many or simply the easily entertained, this new luxury will thrill you.

EZ Rider Pedicabs is a new business in the Bryan/ College Station area owned and operated by senior industrial distribution major Holland Lawrence.

The "pedicab" is a bicycle pulling a rickshaw, or a three-seat bench on wheels.

Every Thursday, Friday and Saturday night, from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 a.m., Ags are given the option of jumping into a pedicab and getting a ride to their car or nearby home. Though a typical ride is within a three to five block radius of Northgate, Lawrence hits the usual hotspots down Old College, University, Wellborn and sometimes into Bryan.

For a direct pick up, Lawrence tends to begin behind Aggieland Bookstore, the Fitzwilly's parking lot and the St. Mary's Catholic Church parking lot.

After doing some research, Lawrence made the decision to take donations as a method of payment.

"In big cities, the rates are high, but as a college student myself, I thought about what I would pay and the best conclusion I came to was donations," said Lawrence.

Rachel Hood, a senior industrial distribution major and friend of Lawrence, said she found out about the business this semester but was eager to catch a ride.

"Holland is very easy going, easy to get along with and definitely my saving grace the other night," said Hood.

On Lawrence's third weekend out riding, Hood found the pedicab when she needed it most.

"The ride was wonderful. I was wearing heels all day so my feet were done by the end of night," said Hood.

Taking the cab to Lot 77 facing Wellborn, Hood and two friends took pictures and video as they rode around Northgate.

"When we were riding everyone was looking at us and we were waving at everyone. It was really fun just getting a ride to the car," said Hood.

Since her night of fame, Hood has spread the word about the cabs and thinks the business will do well.

"It's nice and easy, he meets you right out of Northgate and takes you right to your car. I don't think he could have come up with a better idea," said Hood.

To Lawrence's surprise, he hasn't received any negative feedback on the business yet.

The idea came to Lawrence in October 2008 when he saw the pedicab business in Austin and spoke with one of the "cabbies" or riders. Lawrence said the more he thought about it, the more it sounded like a great addition to Aggieland.

"It provides an eco-friendly mode of transportation and eliminates Aggies' use of vehicles," said Lawrence.

The first person he called was his older brother Whitney Lawrence who graduated from the University of Texas and now works as a transportation engineer in Oakland, Ca.

"I was totally behind it," said Whitney, "I thought it was such a good idea and Holland's got the heart of an entrepreneur, it's not hard to tell."

As it turned out, older brother Whitney ended up helping in more ways than moral support. The cabs that Lawrence wanted to purchase from Craig's list were located in California.

"I was there to help him with advice, running ideas, looking at the merchandise and organizing the transportation of the stuff back to Texas," said Whitney.

When the bikes arrived in November, the idea became a reality as Lawrence began working 12 hours a day to get the bikes ready by January.

"I had to assemble the cabs, find out the local laws and regulations, register the bikes and become a certified taxi cab driver," said Lawrence.

Lawrence said he is thankful for the support his family has provided throughout the production of EZ Rider Pedicabs.

"I think I would have given up a long time ago if it wasn't for the support of my family and friends," said Lawrence.

Holland's father, Whitney Lawrence, owns a business in San Antonio, which came in handy as the pedicab business began to take action.

"My dad tells me like it is," said Lawrence. "He has helped me with insurance, starting the right business, getting the right titles and registrations; things I wouldn't have otherwise known to do."

Though the pedicabs are still a surprise to many of the faces on Northgate, Lawrence hopes the business will grow in riders and passengers and continue for many years to come.

"I think once it's going, it'll be a big hit and in high demand," said Lawrence.