New pedicab service offers Folly Beach a lift
By Allyson Bird (Contact)
The Post and Courier
Monday, June 1, 2009

As if the refurbished, South Beach-inspired Holiday Inn and the glut of new restaurants didn't establish Folly Beach as a growing tourist destination, try this: Now the Edge of America experience includes rickshaws.

One downtown-based bicycle taxi, Charleston Pedicab, launched Folly Beach Pedicab over Memorial Day weekend. The service runs seven days a week from 10 a.m. until after the bars close, according to owner Joel Carl.

"It's become a whole little community out there," Carl said. "You can have everything you need without leaving the island."

The business, now four bikes, will soon grow to five. Carl said the drivers cart around a variety of customers: Center Street revelers who need a ride back to their rental homes, vacationing families who want a sunset cruise and locals looking for a lift. Plus, plenty of patrons just want a ride to Bert's Market to fill their coolers.

Carl said he hopes people will call ahead in the same fashion they might reserve a taxi.

"We're trying to build a reliable transportation system out there," he added.

A write big crowd

Given how much ink travel scribes spill over Charleston, it's no surprise this year's Atlantic-Caribbean Society of American Travel Writers conference attracted double the number of attendees.

Last year's event was held in Little Rock, Ark. This year's June 7-10 conference headquarters is the Mills House Hotel.

Last year 52 writers and destination representatives showed up, according to the Charleston Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. This year, despite the recession, 104 have registered, marking the highest number of attendees in conference history.

The CVB plans to indulge the group with sample dining at local restaurants and late-night sessions at popular pubs. The schedule also builds in time for historic tours.

The event closes with cocktails in Middleton Place's historic stable yard and dinner at the plantation's pavilion.

Raising rates

Though still not great, the hotel occupancy numbers are getting better.

April's rate averaged more than 77 percent, or 7 percent less than April 2008, according to a study by the College of Charleston's Office of Tourism Analysis. March came in 9 percent lower the previous year.

April's average daily rate reached nearly $128, up about $9 from March but still nearly 10 percent less than in April 2008. The study pointed out that both occupancy and average daily rate continue to steadily rise as the year continues.

Reach Allyson Bird at 937-5594 or abird@postandcourier.com.