Business Is ' Blume-ing'

From flyernews.com

Student's Chicago-based Pedicab Now On Campus
Jennie Szink - News Editor
March 29, 2009
Like many students on St. Patrick's

Day, senior Brendan Blume was up all night splitting time between

Brown Street and the student

neighborhoods. But unlike anyone else, instead of walking it, he was flagging pedestrians down asking if they wanted to ride on the back of his bike.

As a co-owner of Blume Brothers

Pedicab, based in Chicago and less than a year old, Blume brought the pedicab to campus in March. He works Thursdays to Saturdays from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m., when he's not on duty as an RA in Stuart. It's just him and a 21-gear bicycle with a carriage-like seat attached.

"When (passengers) get on it they think they're kings of the world," Blume said. Entire parties

turn and cheer when they see his bike and passengers go by. "It's like chariots of fire."

Blume, 21, started the business

with his 24-year-old brother last summer because neither had a job. Instead of continuing their job search, they looked into buying

a pedicab bicycle, of which there are only about 50 in Chicago.

"It was a turning point in my life," Blume said. "We said, 'Let's do something new, something clean'."

They were attracted to the idea because it could fill transportation

needs in an environmentally friendly way. They also liked the idea of being their own boss.

"We started a snow shoveling business when we were young, we've always been entrepreneurs,"

Blume said. "We were both home schooled so we have the drive inside of us. We don't need to have a teacher telling us what to do."

On the suggestion of their father, also an entrepreneur, the brothers signed a notarized agreement about the business. They bought insurance and a bike with operating break lights and turn signals in the dark.

Their goal was to make the 81 home games for the Chicago Cubs and hit as many Chicago White Sox games as they could. Both being

water polo players and feeling fit, the Blumes weren't ready for what pulling around the weight of two or three people does to a person's body.

"The first week it was so hard because it is a strain on your body, no matter how in shape you are," Blume said. They decided not to stick to their original plan of riding every day.

The brothers did work enough to increase their business by three bikes and hired more riders

in Chicago. Their goal for this summer is to double their business.

Though they do not have set ride prices, it's usually never more than $10 for all riders combined.

They work when most students would be out with friends, like New Year's Eve, but Blume said as he pedals he forgets he's working.

"You won't look at it as a job. You're riding and you're having a conversation with the passengers."

While the partners do face some problems with the economy, like having difficulty obtaining loans, Blume said he brought the business to Dayton hoping to help students' economic troubles improve.

"With the state the economy is in, we want to create jobs," Blume said. "We can give students rides while creating jobs for them."

Blume will be riding around campus until next December, when he plans to graduate with an accounting degree. He's looking

for employees for the business so it can continue when he moves back to Chicago.

"I'm going to ride full-time until

I stop having fun, which won't happen."