A new rickshaw tour service could be up and running in Banff by the end of the month.
Ottawa native Caolan Kennedy has moved to Banff to start a summer rickshaw tour service for tourists and residents. He hopes to start operation of his Banff Rickshaw company sometime after June 20.
Kennedy said the Town of Banff has given him a two-year temporary development permit.
“I am trying to provide a high quality experience, and touch on the history and geography of the area. I want to show tourists the things they don’t get to see unless they leave Banff Avenue,” he said.
“One of the reasons we decided to go with rickshaws is because Banff is a national park, and this is an environmentally friendly mode of transportation, while at the same time taking advantage of the tourist industry that takes place here.”
Kennedy said the rickshaws have been shipped from China to Vancouver and once they clear Canada Customs, he expects they will arrive in time to allow for a start somewhere between June 20 and July 1.
He has been advertising to try to get runners for the business. The plan is to eventually have up to six rickshaws on the street. “We’re looking for responsible runners with a great attitude and a friendly way with people,” he said.
Kennedy’s company will run various tours throughout town from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on streets and trails that have been previously approved by council. Banff Avenue is off limits. Individual rates are currently set at $25 for 15 minutes, $45 for 30 minutes and $65 for a full hour.
“We’ve brought in six rickshaws and with any luck we will run all by the end of the summer, but initially we plan to start with a few less,” he said.
“We’re in a trial period, and hopefully at the end of the two years, the Town will decide to keep us around permanently.”
Town of Banff administration has indicated a preference to allow only rickshaw and pedi-cab tour services on a trial basis in order to provide for the monitoring and assessment of the impacts of this type of vehicular tour service.
In February, council approved a change to Banff’s traffic bylaw to allow pedi-cab and rickshaw companies to do business in Banff, but only for the next two years and with limits on where they could go.
