A Free Ride

They have the old saying that 'the best things in life are free'. I am not sure who originally coined that phrase? I don't think it took long for someone else to come up with 'nothing is ever truly free' (or some offshoot similar to that).

In this mass marketing age sometimes all the stops come out in an attempt to lure us in. Many of us have rightly become sceptical of 'free' things. Often we just end up with a cynical disposition and a bad taste in our mouths.

In my own small way I try to change the 'if it is free there must be a catch' attitude. I often offer a free pedicab ride to someone when I feel it is warranted.

It is kind of funny the reactions that I get when I tell someone "How about a free ride?". You get the 'off standish' person that thinks there is some type of catch. Then there is the 'uninterested' person that just has other things on their mind. Once in a while you will get the person that really needs it.

Most of the time the people that get on for a free roll up the road have never been on a pedicab before. So in some ways a free ride is an investment in someone who may ride again sometime if they like it. When you do meet a person that has never taken a ride it is kind of amazing.

A few days ago I took some women that were staying at the Star Of Hope back to the center. They told me they were coming back from a career class. It was quite fun. I have taken some kids with their mothers from the center to the corner store as well and the delight on their young faces is just heart warming. I feel if, even for a moment, that I can help brighten someone's day then maybe it can make a difference somehow in their lives.


I have given rides to people that have lost their wallets, got left by their ride, don't have any cash on them and so fourth. Sometime I get a phone number or I am told to come by a place of work to get a hook-up on food, a phone or whatever kind of business the person may be in. I have never really followed up on any offers though. For me a smile coming from a kind face is more than enough.

That is the great thing about a pedicab ride. No one really ever takes one because they need to. 98 percent of the time the rides are well within walking distance for patrons. We often just shuttle people from bar to bar, their car to an event, from a hotel to dine somewhere...rides that are quicker than walking but not exactly something you would find yourself taking to the airport. I think the longest ride I have ever given has been around 6 miles or so. So in the end it is all about novelty and having fun. For just a brief moment out of the regular day it is a chance to feel special.


May you find special joy in the free things of life. Ty