http://www.thestar.co.uk/news/Anyone-fancy-catching-an-eco.4800537.jp
SOME might say Sheffield's a bit hilly for pedal power.
But brave Phil Collier is undaunted, and has crossed the Pennines from his native Liverpool to transport people around the city centre - on a bike.
The 30-year-old has invested £8,000 in an Eco Cab, similar to an Indian rickshaw, which has two seats and a canvas roof.
Such vehicles compete with taxis in places like Barcelona, Berlin and Dublin - but these are all flat cities with wide roads and plentiful cycle lanes.
However Phil, who quit his job working with young people to get on his bike in the summer, said the idea has been a success where he has initially plied his trade, in Liverpool and Manchester.
He said: "Liverpool's quite a hilly city, so I'm sure the Eco Cabs could work in Sheffield. It's hard work, though, although I was reasonably fit beforehand because I used to go to the gym."
Phil has been hired by the owners of the Leopold Square development in the city centre to transport weary folk for a bite to eat or a drink at their bars and restaurants.
This weekend and next, he will be picking people up free of charge from around the main shopping areas such as Fargate and The Moor.
Phil said he first had the idea to buy an Eco Cab after thinking about the damage to the environment caused by conventional taxis taking people on short journeys in city centres.
"There's a need for an eco-friendly way of doing things," he said. "It works well in plenty of areas and could catch on in Sheffield despite the hills."
Phil's Eco Cab is operating this weekend, between 11am and 6pm from Friday to Sunday.