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Take A Free Ride

Tribune photo by JASON BEHNKEN

Tim Ireland heads down Kennedy Boulevard Friday afternoon bringing a group of four from their office to lunch. Ireland was offering free rides in the fully electric vehicle.

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By JOSE PATINO GIRONA

The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 25, 2008

DOWNTOWN - Jaimie Hendry was standing on the corner, waiting to cross the street, when she caught a glimpse of the vehicle that would change the course of her trip.

"I saw the car and thought, 'Look, how cute,'" Hendry said.

Tim Ireland pulled up, driving an electric motor cart that seats six. Hendry and her grandmother, Alice Royals, took advantage of the free service provided by Fast-Trac Legal Services, hitching a ride on the cart from city hall to the federal courthouse.

"I think it is a wonderful idea," Hendry said. "It is about time we use electric cars, especially downtown. We need to do something about our gas problem."

On a recent afternoon, Ireland drove the cart through downtown as people stared from cars, sidewalks and restaurants. He picked up passengers who had made appointments or people standing at intersections, driving them to restaurants or office buildings.

Ireland made small talk with his passengers and answered their questions about the vehicle.

"We are 100 percent green, riding clean," he said.

Ireland's brother Chris began offering the free rides in April. About a year ago, he saw people rent golf carts to get around in Key West.

For his legal services business, Chris Ireland travels from Riverside Heights to downtown about seven times a day. He decided he could offer rides downtown from the surrounding neighborhoods and transport people around downtown as well. The cart recently took a couple to the port to board a cruise ship.

The service is financed through advertising; the cart bears ads for Rick's on the River and Certified Quality Contractors.

The vehicle, which can cost about $15,000, runs on nine 8-volt batteries and charges in four to eight hours. It can run for four hours and travel up to 28 mph, Chris Ireland said.

He bought the Global Electric Motorcars E6 model from Bob Wilson Dodge in Tampa. Ireland and his partners, David Gorgei and Orlando De Los Santos Jr., both of Tampa, plan to introduce a second vehicle in two weeks.

Ireland said he's concentrating on downtown and the area bordered by Hillsborough, Rome, and Nebraska avenues plus parts of Hyde Park. The three partners and Tim Ireland share driving duties.

Chris Ireland said the vehicle beats gas prices and helps the environment.

"It is just serving the community," he said.

Angie Toledo, an accounting clerk for the county, and Liwan Gallop, a personnel analyst for the county, were given a business card touting the free service.

They called and asked for a ride from the County Center to Channelside Bay Plaza for lunch. The trip took six minutes.

"It's all about time," Toledo said. "We only have one hour for lunch. Going there in six minutes and then coming back, it was nice."

Reporter Jose Patino Girona can be reached at (813) 835-2110 or

HITCH A RIDE

WHAT: Fast-Trac Legal Services provides free rides in an electric motor cart in downtown and surrounding neighborhoods.

WHEN: Rides are available from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.

WHERE: The service covers downtown north to Hillsborough Avenue, east to Nebraska Avenue and west to Rome Avenue, plus Hyde Park south and west to Bern's Steak House on Howard Avenue.

CONTACT: Chris Ireland at (813) 376-0595

jpatino@tampatrib.com. Go to centraltampa.tbo .com or southtampa.tbo .com, keyword: Fast Trac, to see video of the cart.

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