Pedal Beach Tours: Nonprofit Pedicab Tours in Coronado

Customer story · Pedal Beach Tours, Coronado

A pedicab tour that gives every dollar to families in need

In January 2024, retired Coronado High School principal Jeff Davis launched Pedal Beach Tours: guided pedicab tours of Coronado run entirely by volunteers, with every tour fee going to holiday gifts and meals for South Bay families. The pedicab came from Xion Motors.

A Pedal Beach Tours guide pedaling two riders past the Coronado Bridge
A Pedal Beach tour passing the Coronado Bridge
Operator
Pedal Beach ToursNonprofit 501(c)(3), Coronado, CA
Vehicle
Xion pedicabSeats up to six riders
Tours
$100 per groupAbout 90 minutes, by appointment
Team
9 volunteersNo paid staff
The idea

Cycling plus community service

Jeff spent his career in schools and two decades running community projects, including Thanksgiving dinners for families in Imperial Beach. When he retired, he wanted a new way to give back that also used his love of cycling.

He didn't want street-hail pedicabs like downtown San Diego. Coronado called for something calmer: appointment-only tours that mix the island's history with a bit of humor, booked ahead and run like a small community project.

Jeff Davis of Pedal Beach Tours with the teal Pedal Beach Tours pedicab, San Diego skyline behind
Jeff Davis with the Pedal Beach Tours pedicab, built by Xion in San Diego
Getting started

Permits, a fixed route and a donated budget

  • PermitWorked with the City of Coronado; the review across city departments took about nine months
  • RouteA fixed, city-approved route on bike paths and quieter streets, away from Orange Avenue and Third and Fourth Streets
  • BudgetAbout $25,000 to start, covering the pedicab and liability insurance, which together made up about 95% of the cost
  • FundingThe full amount came from friends' donations after a couple of emails
  • TeamNine trained volunteer guides
"[He] gave us a great deal."Jeff Davis on buying from Xion, Coronado News
The Pedal Beach Tours pedicab with its teal wrap parked on the beach in Coronado
The cab in its Pedal Beach colors on the Coronado sand
What other operators can take from it
  • TimePlan for permitting to take months, not weeks
  • CostsInsurance is a major line item: get a quote before you order
  • ApprovalA fixed, safety-first route helps a city say yes
  • ModelBooked tours suit quieter towns where street hailing doesn't fit
How a tour works

From booking to giving back

Everything runs online, with no cash on the cab.

  1. Book

    Guests book online for a flat $100 per group of up to six.

  2. Pick up

    A volunteer guide meets them at a pickup spot in the Village.

  3. Ride

    About 90 minutes of Coronado history and stories on a city-approved route.

  4. Give

    The fee goes to Pedal Beach Charity as a tax-deductible donation.

Your pedicab program

Starting a tour or nonprofit program?

We help first-time operators pick the right pedicab, plan for permits and insurance, and get on the road. Tell us about your town and your idea.

Talk to us Pedicab models

Based on reporting by Coronado News, January 29, 2024: "Pedal Beach Tours: Coronado Pedicab Tours For A Cause". Details describe the program at launch. Photos: Pedal Beach Tours (Instagram @pedalbeachtours); ride photo from their promo video by Icebear Productions.