“My neighbor followed bike news in Mobile. In 2016, he saw they were looking for peddlers for pedicabs. He lasted a couple of weeks, but I am still here six years later. It became something I love to do. Preston Griffith and an attorney started the cabs. When they decided not to do it anymore, my buddy Wayne and I bought our own cabs. Jake and Luke Peavy let us keep our cab in their buildings.
I have regular riders and meet a lot of people from out of town. Everyone is nice, and it’s a good way to see the city. I usually give four rides an hour. Some have a place they want to go, others just want to ride around downtown. I tell them a bit of the history and the good things happening here.
It’s exciting to have Mardi Gras back. There is a strategy to work around the barriers and the timing of crowds going to and leaving the balls. During Mardi Gras season, I work 8 to 10 hours a day. Sometimes I go to sleep at about 4:00 a.m. Then do it all over again. My wife Diane makes sandwiches and hot soup to keep me going. She can’t sleep until I get home.
Diane is the inspiration for everything. We have been married for 48 years. It goes by so fast. We worked together in our wholesale jewelry business for 28 years. We sold the business in 2014. After that, we have worked at Yellowstone in the summers when it’s too hot to peddle a cab.
I am 73. Wayne and I are just two old guys peddling people around Mobile and having a good time. I decorate the cab for weddings and wear a top hat and tux shirt. I am a safe ride after people have been out drinking, or I ride people around until they find their car. I usually ride two people, but can take two couples. Sometimes people get amorous, but I try not to look.”
Mike
Mike
What a great business you provide! Thank you for becoming part of a Mobile tradition!