Three wheeler-dealers

In a city where millions of dollars are spent every year on the nation’s most modern subway system, three airports and an eight-lane Beltway, pedal-powered rickshaws might seem a bit out of place.

Not so, say three friends fresh out of college whose new company, Capitol Pedicabs, offers a way for residents and visitors to Washington to enjoy a fun and “green” way to get around in the city.

“It’s kind of relaxing,” Margaret Perschy, a Baltimore resident visiting Washington, commented on her first pedicab experience, which she said was fun compared to her usual banal drive.

The men behind the business, Martin Rahmani, Alex Lanigan and Steven Balinsky, grew up as high school classmates in New York City who never expected to be co-partners.

Today, their company uses three-wheeled rickshaws or pedicabs to transport fares around Washington, and their unique rides are attracting attention on city streets.

Barely a month in existence, Capitol Pedicabs recently launched an online presence and plans to promote advertising opportunities as well as pedicab rentals for private events.

Mr. Balinsky once drove a pedicab in New York and brought the idea to the attention of his friends who realized the benefits of such a job.

“The three of us had a strong desire to start a company because it’s such a service to the city,” Mr. Rahmani said. Mr. Balinsky said that New York’s market was already too saturated to begin a fourth rickshaw company.

Mr. Lanigan, who keeps the books and coordinates with advertisers for the company, said he enjoyed promoting the pedicab business.

“It’s a great source of transportation to eliminate congestion and go green,” he said.

After graduating from different colleges the three reunited and set up shop in Washington where Mr. Rahmani said he recognized a good business opportunity.

“Of course you don’t need a college degree to run a pedicab company,” he said. “What it comes down to is that this is a fun and exciting opportunity for us.”

Mr. Balinsky said one thing that drew him to the job was how environmentally friendly pedicabs were.

The company now owns six pedicabs with hopes to grow to 15 by the end of the year and has hired three full-time drivers, Mr. Rahmani said. He said a pool of 10 or 12 pedicab drivers, just for their current fleet, would be ideal.

“There are a lot of benefits,” Mr. Balinsy said. “You get to interact with people all day and you set your own hours. The harder you work, the more money you make. You can easily make a couple hundred dollars a day and a couple thousand dollars a week.”

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