2 weeks Ago By By Nathan Wilson Columbia Gorge News
HOOD RIVER — If you’ve ever needed a ride after a long night out at Whiskey Tango, chances are you’ve met Matthew Barmann. Known best by his work persona, “Matty Green,” the train-hopping, bike-loving, botanist-turned-taxi-driver owns and operates one of the transportation services in the Gorge. Barmann moved to town in 2014, and a few years later he established Hood River Pedicab.
At first, it was just Barmann and one electric pedicab, a large tricycle outfitted with a bench and canopy. Now with two pedicabs, a hybrid minivan, two Teslas and three additional drivers, Barmann’s low-carbon fleet brings folks to the airport, weddings and essentially any other destination within a 60-mile radius of Hood River. “There’s such a sense of joy, giddiness and wonder when people get on the bike that gives me such pleasure — it almost brings me back to a kid-like stage,” he said.
To no surprise, Barmann spent much of his younger years on or around bikes. While attending Humbolt State University in Northern California, Barmann joined a bicycle maintenance cooperative and worked as a bike messenger in San Francisco over the summer, even pedaling from the Bay to Los Angeles at one point. Inspired by the Jack Kerouac novels and drawn toward disruptive eras, like The Great Depression and the 1960s, particularly hippies, Barmann hopped freight trains from Mount Shasta to Portland shortly after graduation and returned home by cycling down the Oregon coast.
At Humbolt, Barmann also developed a love for plants and sustainable technology, earning him the nickname Matty Green. He then received his master’s in botany from Oregon State University (OSU) and spent the next 25 years in places like Yellowstone National Park, working in the woods and restoring landscapes to their proper ecological state. But eventually, he wanted a change.
“I got to a place where I was old enough that I didn’t want to keep taking orders from people that I didn’t respect,” said Barmann. Being his own boss gave Barmann more time with his family. Recalling a pedicab service at OSU planted the seed and, like many previous endeavors, Barmann started his business with the environment in mind.
“I’ve developed an awareness of all the threat humans pose to our beautiful planet,” he said. “We only have one. I wanted to do things in my life, both personally and professionally, to heal the planet and try to cause less damage to begin with.
” Barmann revived his ulterior persona, a tribute not only to his college days but also to high school drama classes, and continued working outdoors. Barmann registered his first car in late 2019, but when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, he pivoted to food and grocery delivery, rebranding his company to Hood River Pedicab, EV Taxi & Delivery. Those services continue today, and Barmann recently secured a courier contract with Providence Hospital; however, interacting with people is one of his favorite parts of the job.
“I’m a very social, extroverted person, and I like making connections,” said Barmann. “I feel like I have a natural service personality, and I really love the challenge and fun of meeting people from all different dispositions.” It’s all about reading passengers, their situation and adapting to them.
As such, he finds fulfillment in rescuing people stranded along Interstate 84 or calming down a nervous bride before her big day. In 2022, Barmann separated his pedicab and delivery services from his taxi services by making two distinct companies, Hood River Pedicab & Delivery along with Hood River EV Taxi & Gorge Shuttle. Because he’s locally accountable, familiar with the community and pays his drivers a living wage, Barmann believes he offers a better service than larger Transportation Network Companies (TNCs), like Uber and Lyft.
With no cross-river travel, Uber currently operates in a limited capacity and Lyft does not cover the area. Hood River City Council is still deciding whether to embrace TNCs, and while Barmann initially opposed the transportation companies, now he’s looking for a compromise. Barmann wants TNCs subject to the same city requirements as his business: vehicle inspections, background checks and yearly permits along with insurance, advertising and fee regulations.
In his eyes, that will lessen the edge TNCs already have in terms of convenience, cost and marketing, especially since Barmann doesn’t intend to expand his services much more. He also noted building smaller taxi services keeps more revenue in the community since all TNCs siphon around half of any given fare. “Ideally, I’d like them to keep it local,” said Barmann.
“I’d rather see other companies, like a Gorge network of independent companies that have two or three cars like I do, coordinate among ourselves.”.
