May 11, 2021

Those looking to enjoy downtown shopping, restaurants and events this summer will have a new way to get around: pedicabs.

Sioux Falls Pedicabs will launch officially May 29, owner Emmett Reistroffer said, but don’t be surprised if you start seeing bikes downtown as early as next week as drivers begin training.

Reistroffer wanted to bring pedicabs to Sioux Falls after seeing their success in bigger cities like Denver and Minneapolis as both a mode of transportation and a way for riders to learn more about the area.

“The real value in it to me is really not the profit so much as it is about giving back to the community and just connecting people together,” Reistroffer said.

Pedicab drivers will work as independent contractors, setting their own rates and payment systems via cash, Venmo or whatever they prefer. Drivers pay a small daily fee to Sioux Falls Pedicabs for routine maintenance and bike upkeep, but their income is their own beyond that.

Typical rides will start at around $5 and may equate to about $1 per block or a flat rate.

Reistroffer will start his fleet with two pedicabs, which he’s renting from Twin Town Pedicabs in Minneapolis. He’s planning to expand quickly to four, and he’ll have access to between 15 and 16 total if the pedicabs are rented for a large event.

Day to day, the cabs will hang around downtown, but they can be rented for private events throughout the city, Reistroffer said.

He already has been booked to help with an O’Gorman High School graduation event, he said, and there are examples in Minneapolis of Twin Town Pedicabs working corporate events as well.

“We can really get creative and have fun with it,” Reistroffer said of the prospect of working with advertisers and companies in town. “We know it’s going to be eye-catching because Sioux Falls has not really had this before.”

Riders can hail a pedicab by simply flagging down the driver when spotted downtown. They also can reach out to request a ride at siouxfallspedicabs.com.