The well-wheeled get around Town Center in style

By Irene Bowers

Correspondent

VIRGINIA BEACH

Free wheeling and fun, Seven Cities Rickshaws plies Town Center's streets, offering transportation by pedal power.

"Some folks have never seen rickshaws or pedicabs," said co-owner Andrew Bargy of the bicycle-powered taxis. "Right now we are kind of a novelty, but repeat visitors to the 'hub' are starting to take advantage of what we offer."

The "hub," for the uninformed, is the bike pedalers' name for Town Center.

"We pretty much have renamed everything and everyone down here, bringing a little beach flavor to the city center" said rickshaw operator Brian Herman.

Four people do the footwork for the pedicab business, which opened in November. Along with Bargy and Herman, are Bargy's fiancée and co-owner Rachel Dunavant and Marc Bullard.

The crew splits shifts on sturdy, two-passenger vehicles, which are manufactured by Main Street Pedicabs of Colorado.

"We're the only ones in the city who are currently licensed to do this," said Bargy.

The business originated in 2006 as Cool Running Rickshaw s at Sandbridge, where Bargy saw an opportunity to combine work with play.

"We already were bicyclists. Pedicabs are good for the environment, fun for folks. We might be able to make a living at it, too," he said.

Bargy said the company's goal is to expand the business into Norfolk, Chesapeake, Portsmouth and the other cities of Hampton Road s, thus the new Seven Cities moniker.

"It is a different way to get around, and they get you to restaurants or the movie theater a lot faster than you can walk," said Queenie Alvior, who recently used Seven Cities Rickshaws with some friends. "They know everything that is going on down here, so they can tell you the great places to hang out. "

Seven Cities Rickshaws serves the Town Center area, including Pembroke Mall, Columbus Station and Regal Cinemas. The fare is $2 per person for a one-way ride with no charge for small children accompanied by parents.

Hours are 5 to 10 p.m. Thursday and 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday.

Pedicabs may be hailed on the street or by phone reservatio n.

For Bargy, the enterprise brings back memories of pleasant peddling in a familiar area.

"I grew up riding the woods right here on my dirt bike," said the 1991 Princess Anne High grad. "It's kind of ironic that all this went up and I am still riding around here."

Irene Bowers, bowersi@aol.com