VISITORS to South Shields's seafront can now put their feet up and take in the scenery in style from the back of a new and unusual mode of transport.
A bicycle-drawn rickshaw which wouldn't look out of place on the streets of Tokyo or Kuala Lumpur can now be seen transporting locals and tourists around the town.
Businessmen David Prince and Vince Glassock say their new venture is more environm
entawouldn't look out of place on the streets of Tokyo or Kuala Lumpur can now be seen transporting locals and tourists around the town.
Businessmen David Prince and Vince Glassock say their new venture is more environmentally friendly than a car and far more fun than travelling by foot.
Mr Prince came up with the idea to bring a rickshaw to South Shields during a recent trip to Edinburgh.
He saw rickshaws ferrying tourists around the Scottish capital, even taking a spin in one himself, and became convinced something similar had the potential to be successful south of the English border.
Mr Prince runs Sports Recycler in South Shields along with Vince Glassock.
The company is a social enterprise specialising in recycling and repairing bikes and sports equipment to encourage healthy lifestyles and environmentally-friendly methods of transport.
With the support of South Tyneside Means Business, it secured a business feasibility grant to assess the commercial potential of their rickshaw idea.
Sports Recycler is starting off with one rickshaw.
If it proves popular, more will follow and, by the summer, there could be a whole fleet of them ferrying people up and down Ocean Road and the seafront.
Mr Prince said: "We are non-profit making, and any surplus funds go into servicing the needs of the company.
"It would have been a big risk for us to buy a whole fleet of rickshaws without first finding out if the idea is actually viable.
"We discussed the idea with South Tyneside Means Business, and it was able to offer us financial support and advice, which will hopefully get us on the right road to making this idea a success."
Business feasibility grants, like the one given to Sports Recycler, are offered to help assess the viability of business propositions that could benefit the community.
Coun Eddie McAtominey, South Tyneside Council's lead member for jobs, enterprise and regeneration, said: "The rickshaw is an unusual but innovative idea, and I can imagine it will be a popular attraction in South Shields."
For more information about the grants, call (0845) 460 3333 or visit www.southtyneside meansbusiness.co.uk.
