Port Townsend’s electric taxi and tour service has been recognized by the state Main Street Program for its commitment to sustainability.

“It’s nice to be recognized,” said PTeRider co-owner Kate Dwyer upon receiving the Washington State Main Street Program’s Excellence on Main Sustainable Future Award. “We think we’re the only business like this in the state.”

Inspired by a similar service in Portland, Oregon, Dwyer and her husband, Myron Gauger, launched PTeRider last year after overcoming a number of obstacles to get the taxi on the road, including amending state law to allow low-speed electric vehicles on highways with speed limits of 30 mph or less.

“It was pretty hard to pull off,” said Dwyer, who described herself and Gauger as artists who took a leap.

“Anybody with tenacity, a good idea and communication skills can become an entrepreneur, even quite late in life,” she said.

PTeRider offers popular tours of Port Townsend, and takes riders uptown and downtown. While tourists form its customer base, Dwyer said, the taxi service is also supporting local businesses, as drivers are in a position to give advice to their clients on where to eat and stay.

The first year was a success, Dwyer said, and also informative. “We learned a lot,” she said. Based on the 2016 season, they’re making some significant operational changes to the 2017 season, which began two weeks ago. They’ve reduced rates between Point Hudson and the ferry terminal, and eliminated services to the north end, including Fort Worden, due to battery-charging issues.

“All these changes we made are going to make it a better business and easier on us,” Dwyer said.

BACK TO THE ARTIST’S LIFE

Now that they’ve successfully introduced a green, alternative form of transportation that lowers the carbon footprint while also adding to the festive nature of Port Townsend, Dwyer and Gauger are looking to sell the business.

“It’s a cool business the town needed,” Dwyer said. “We wanted to prove it could work, and then move on.” Gauger is a studio art photographer and shoots most of the art pieces in town, she said. Dwyer is a landscape designer and an artist. They’re both looking to focus once again on those areas once they sell the taxi business.

Until then, they’ll be operating the business with the help of a couple of part-time drivers, offering earth-friendly rides uptown and downtown in the bright red electric taxi. “It’s all about being electric,” Gauger said. “The sustainable award really ties into that.”

“Kate and Myron have demonstrated ingenuity in every step they’ve taken since hatching the idea for PTeRiders,” stated Breanne Durham, Washington State Main Street coordinator.

The Sustainable Future award acknowledges that downtown districts are uniquely poised to be community leaders by innovating sustainable and environmental practices, according to a press release. It is designed to recognize projects that focus on innovative practices that improve the quality of life for residents and users of downtown.

The Excellence on Main awards, organized by the Washington State Main Street Program, recognize communities, organizations and individuals who are helping to achieve economic vitality and build sustainable communities through downtown revitalization and preservation, according to a press release.