New small business wheels into downtown Woodstock

WOODSTOCK — Regulars to Woodstock may have noticed a new addition to the entertainment and lifestyle of Main Street — a quadricycle capable of carrying up to 12 people.

The vehicle, which features music, will have a mounted television for trivia and sports events, changing how visitors to the downtown will experience Woodstock and its many venues and vendors. Prospective customers can grab a beverage and jump on for a ride, as the bike follows a circuit around downtown.

The bike is owned and operated by local startup Pedal Punk ATL, which was founded by Amy Moore, a Woodstock local with decades of service as an occupational therapist.

Moore traces her idea back to the COVID lockdown, when the school she was working at was one of the first to close its doors.

“I’ve been an occupational therapist for thirty three years, specializing in pediatric therapy and hand and upper extremity therapy,” Moore said. “Then COVID hit and, working for one of the biggest school districts in Georgia, I was at one of the first schools to shut down completely for quarantine. Back when the quarantine was going on I kind of thought, ‘What can I do differently that can have something to do with Woodstock? And I noticed that everybody would gather in the same places in the downtown entertainment district, and I thought ‘there needs to be an alternative place to gather outside.’”

She thought of a way to combine the active slice of life in Woodstock, with a community of bikers and runners that frequent its many trails, and the fun side of its entertainment district.

“You know, people feel more comfortable outside,” Moore said. “What could we do outside to bring the active piece to the fun piece? So that is what I came up with!”

Given her connection with Woodstock, Moore decided it was a natural place to begin her first business. She credits some of the inspiration for her idea to a small business class she took, which was offered by the UGA Small Business Development Center at Kennesaw State University. Daniel McCoy, a mentor, “worked tirelessly,” Moore said, “to help me find a startup business lender during the pandemic.”

She also found help from the city of Woodstock.

“I’d like to thank Mayor Caldwell and the city council,” Moore said. “I’m looking forward to partnering with some of the local establishments and working on some of the local events here in the city.”

Moore began researching where she could purchase the cart for her business before deciding on a manufacturer from Spain that would ship the cart overseas. This was ultimately a two-year endeavor that Moore considers a “learning process and a journey.”

The bike has a route around downtown Woodstock, with certain stops where patrons may get on or off. Each customer will get a wristband that marks the hour that has been paid for. The bike has two to three stops along its route, including the public parking lot on Wheeler Street and the lot near Reformation Brewery.

Pedal Punk ATL has been offering rides since Dec 10, though the official ribbon cutting won’t be until this spring. The ribbon cutting event with the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce is scheduled for 10 a.m. March 31 in downtown Woodstock. Refreshments from The Sweet Read will be provided, along with complimentary rides.

Moore credits her career in the public education system with providing a number of skills that she has brought with her as a therapist-turned-businesswoman. These include her people skills, along with problem solving ability and troubleshooting.

“It’s definitely been a journey and totally out of my wheelhouse,” Moore said, adding that she’s “still learning every day.”