Name: Todd Miner
Hometown: Buffalo, N.Y.
University/Major: Penn State BS/MS Meteorology in the 1990s
Meet Todd Miner. Founder of Vamos! LionChariot. Todd is the guy peddling his way around campus with a smile on his face. His awesome idea of helping us get from Point A to Point B has created a buzz around Penn State campus. Todd shared with Her Campus the reason behind his eco-friendly idea, and some interesting stories from his rides.
HC: If we can’t find you riding around campus, what can we find you doing? What are some of your favorite hobbies?
Todd: I enjoy staying physically active and traveling. Also I very much enjoy spending time outside! Like swimming, of course biking and the occasional run and pick up sport. I enjoy traveling, especially my first trip to Puerto Rico, that inspired me to learn Spanish. I recently received a minor in Espanol here at PSU, which is why I named the company Vamos!
HC: How did you get the great idea of starting Vamos!?
Todd: I had been a practicing meteorologist and I knew I could fall back on that as a career. Due to the economic situation in our country, I saw my situation as an opportunity to try something new and different. During a vacation in California, I saw these pedicabs in motion and said to myself, “Wouldn’t this be cool to bring this concept to State College/PSU?” After consulting with the local Small Business Development Center and getting approval from PSU and the Borough, I formulated a business plan and decided to go for it. I bought the first bike back in April and then two more in May.
HC: Why do you think it is important to implement green transportation at Penn State and other college campuses?
Todd: It’s the wave of the future. We all know that for a variety of reasons, reducing our use of fossil fuels is probably a wise idea. So, why not let the proverbial seed of green transport germinate and prosper in a progressive collegiate community like Penn State?
HC: You say that you aim to leave a smile on all your passenger’s face after each ride, do you ever sing any songs, or tell any jokes?
Todd: I let the experience of the ride do the job of creating the smile. It’s just fun to listen to music and be a king or queen on the royal chariot for a few minutes. Sometimes I like to engage passengers by asking them to help me with hand turn signals. As I like to tell all of our passengers Vamos! is not transportation, we are transportainment (transportation + entertainment).
HC: What has been the greatest bike ride experience?
Todd: Best experience was probably this drunk kid from East Halls the other night who sang an impromptu song with his guitar in hand on Shortlidge road at 3 a.m., with fabricated lyrics that told a story about how Vamos! saved him one night last August when he was lost and a little too drunk to find his way back. There are many other good ones too!
H.C.: Does Vamos! Hold any special rides?
1. Birthday rides for all ages in which we decorate the chariot for your special day and maybe order up some onboard serenading entertainment for you. Or just take you to your bar(s) of choice.
2. Date rides are a lot of fun, and every Penn State guy needs to for his special girl, because it’s an epic way to show your affection to your loved one!
3. Tours are great for friends and family who want to see the best of campus and town at just the right pace.
4. Event promotion. Got a big event that your group is trying to promote? Let Vamos! with its three chariots get the word out!