RALEIGH, N.C. -- If the thought of hassling with parking in downtown Raleigh keeps you away, there's a new concept designed to lure you in.

 

They're called rickshaws and they don't even use a drop of gas.

 

They drive down Fayetteville Street in a fleet, ready to avoid traffic tie ups or parking hassles.

 

These pedal power people are getting attention.

 

The idea is for people to find parking spaces and then bike into where ever they need to go without tickets and headaches.

 

Meet Raleigh's Rickshaw.

 

The bike riders can take you two blocks, or perhaps two miles.

 

NBC17 gave it a test whirl and talked with the company's co-owner.

 

The owners said they have been wanting to do something like this for awhile. They said it's environmentally friendly, fun and serves downtown Raleigh.

 

The rickshaws come complete with tail lights and a headlight and they're totally street legal.

 

Loren Gold and his friend took a noon ride down Fayetteville Street.

 

"Roomy back seats, good springs on them as well," Gold said.

 

It sure beats walking, or worrying about getting to your car alone at night, riders said.

 

"I think they'll do great on Friday and Saturday nights, between the warehouse and Glenwood and Fayetteville Street," Gold said.

 

Heck, if gas prices keep rising, perhaps we may need these guys to drive us to news stories.

 

Drivers will accept tips for now and eventually charge per block traveled.

 

The service hopes to eventually expand to weekdays to take people from parking garages to work downtown.