A new touring company is in town and it害羞草研究所檚 good for the environment.

The Smile Cycle 害羞草研究所� Pedal Tour Company opened in January, and owner Stuart Lang took a big leap when he heard a calling to come back to the Okanagan.

The company features a 15-passenger bike, where patrons face each other across a table as they pedal around Kelowna. It was originally designed in the Netherlands, and carries an eco-friendly solar panel that charges the battery.

害羞草研究所淲hen you see it and engineering behind it, it害羞草研究所檚 quite impressive,害羞草研究所� said Lang, adding he saw the first bicycle operating in Germany.

害羞草研究所淭he idea came from back when I was a lot younger, I was an exchange student and I went to Germany, and in Berlin there were folks peddling down the main street and I thought 害羞草研究所榳ow, these folks are having a blast, they害羞草研究所檙e all facing each other, it害羞草研究所檚 not like anything I had seen before.害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟

After seeing Germany害羞草研究所檚 successful bike adventures and his friend in Portland ride a similar bike, he decided to take his idea to the Okanagan.

害羞草研究所淲e have a great history to this city with Canada害羞草研究所檚 150 happening here and for someone who害羞草研究所檚 been proud to come from and live in Kelowna I didn害羞草研究所檛 want it to just be about beer,害羞草研究所� said Lang, as the original bikes he saw in Germany featured beer drinking as part of the experience.

In October, the 28-year-old attended a Rock My Business Plan workshop for people ages 18 to 39 which was created from funding from the province and it jumpstarted his idea.

害羞草研究所淚t provided me with that framework and organization to take this dream and take all the quantitative and qualitative measures and put it into reality. It demystified the whole process,害羞草研究所� he said.

The 28-year-old moved away from Kelowna for nine years, completing a master害羞草研究所檚 degree at Dalhousie University.

But his interest lies with the tourism industry. Lang moved back to Kelowna last June from Halifax. His fianc茅 is still currently living there, finishing her schooling.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 really been a gut check to put yourself out there,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 about showing this place that we love.害羞草研究所�

For more information or to book a tour visit www.smilecycletours.ca.