Spokane Pedicab is GU duo's brainchild

SPOKANE -- You might see a new spin on an old form of transportation in Downtown Spokane starting Hoopfest weekend. It's the business brainchild of two Gonzaga students.

"We just had this idea," said Gonzaga Student Kevin Darrow.

Darrow wanted to start his own business, he wanted to start a pedicab company.

"I started to get comfortable with opening my own business and I talked to Sam about it," Darrow said.

Darrow's friend Sam Youtsey was less than enthused.

"My first reaction? It sounded a little silly," Youtsey said. "The more we thought about it, the more it made sense."

So with an idea in the works, the guys looked into it.

"We did research on companies in Portland, in Seattle, Eugene, Denver... everywhere they have a pedicab company, they're successful."

The pair lined up investors, got a bicycle taxi, got the shirts, licenses and insurance. $11,000 later, Spokane has it's own pedicab company.

"I'm kind of nervous because it's a new thing and our new business, but I'm really excited," said Darrow.

They'll pick you up in downtown if you call them, or you can simply just flag them down.

The duo knew it wasn't going to be easy, in fact sometimes the physical labor is hard work.

"By the end of the summer I'll be in pretty good shape," Darrow said.

To fight fatigue, Sam and Kevin rotate shifts on the taxi.

"We have a shift of five hours a piece,"said Darrow.

They've taken quite the risk with their new business. During Hoopfest, Spokane Pedicab's inaugural weekend, they need the Hoopfest crowds to take advantage of their new and unique service.

"Hoopfest is going to be huge for us," Youtsey said.

The guys do tours around the Gonzaga campus or up and down the Centennial Trail for flat fees. Their taxi service around downtown is really cheap, about 50 cents per bloc