16 months ago
BUCKSPORT (NEWS CENTER) -- Andy Tyne hopes the rising price of gas helps his new business thrive. He recently bought a rickshaw and is now riding it around town.
Tyne said he decided to buy the bike and carriage to ride his children back and forth to school, but then realized it could make him some money.
"I run another business on the side. I'm a chimney sweep and I guess maybe I've inhaled too much soot," said the owner of Broadway Rickshaw. "I'm always thinking of something different to do. A mobile hot dog stand. But this one seemed to fit more with our family and the community's needs."
His plans are to take tourists around town to show them some of the local flavor. "Of course we'll talk about the water, Penobscot River, the history of Bucksport because of the water," he said. He'll also talk about Fort Knox, show them some of the historic homes and at Halloween time tell stories of hauntings.
When he's not doing that, Tyne plans on helping seniors get their shopping done. He explained that he hopes local stores will prepare seniors groceries or prescriptions and then he would pick them up.
Even when summer's done, and the tourists have gone home, Tyne says his business doesn't have to close up. "I have a rain cover for it," he said. "It has electric assist in the front. So as long as I keep pedaling, it will keep moving up these pretty steep inclines here in Bucksport."
Tyne operates Broadway Rickshaw Thursdays through Sundays. He said grocery runs will cost between $3 and $5, while other trips will have set fees.
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