A passion for creation and a love for the city of Syracuse set the minds of Michael John Heagerty, a Syracuse enthusiast, and Michael Giannattasio of SALT Makerspace into motion. They imagined “The BIG Yellow Fellow,” a pedal powered pub to carry tourists and locals through the streets of Syracuse.
A “barcycle” built for 16, the innovative mode of transportation works in tandem with the Onondaga Historical Society, the Connective Corridor and SALT Makerspace to bring a social aspect to the promotion of small businesses in the city. The BIG Yellow Fellow will be the product of many different creators led by Giannatsio at the Makerspace in Downtown Syracuse.
“I can already feel the breeze and laughter,” one donor wrote on the project’s GoFundMe page.
Heagerty originally came to Syracuse ten years ago to work for his aunt and uncle, who own Kitty Hoyne’s Irish Pub, giving him experience in the hospitality business. More recently, he began getting involved with the tourism industry and is the founder of NOexcusesSYR, a company dedicated to providing locals and visitors alike with fun and memorable tours of the city. Heagerty considers himself “the teller of [the] city’s tales and… the polishing rag of its hidden gems.”
The BIG Yellow Fellow is not Heagerty’s first mobile project. He was also a part of the team that created the Mobile Literacy Arts Bus, a Winnebago-turned-classroom that visited all 18 city schools in Syracuse over the course of a year. In addition to driving the MLAB, Heagerty taught students to record their own music.
Though not a native to the area, Heagerty has a true passion for Syracuse.
“I’m in love with a lady who is always showing me new ways to appreciate her and revealing her past to me,” he said. “She keeps me up at night and makes me excited to wake up for each day I spend with her… Her name is ‘Sar-ah’…cuse.”
The project’s essence is rooted in the history of Syracuse. In 1893, entrepreneur Edward Carl Stearns began manufacturing Yellow Fellow Bicycles in Syracuse for consumers all over the world. The distinct dandelion-colored frame was one of the most popular models being produced at that time, making Syracuse a household name.
“The city is ready for a fun, unique group activity that positively promotes its local history,” Heagerty said.
The minds behind the barcycle hoped to raise $16,000 by mid-January. They provided incentives to encourage donations — a hug from both Heagerty and Giannattasio for a $10 donation, a keychain and custom pint glass for $30 and a free pass for a ride on the barcycle for $250.
While they did not meet their goal by the intended deadline, they were able to exceed the amount needed to complete the project after an anonymous donation of $10,000.
The BIG Yellow Fellow is discussed across various social media with the hashtag #YellowFellowSyr. Many donors send words of encouragement to those behind the project. In the words of one contributor, the BIG Yellow Fellow is “sure to brighten [the] streets with welcome color, joyous movement, and high spirits.”
Natalie Koch, a professor at SU who specializes in political geography, believes the barcycle will promote a sense of community throughout the city as well as help draw more attention to downtown Syracuse.
Koch said that since the opening of Destiny USA in 1990, downtown businesses have been struggling. The barcycle will aid in helping accomplish this by only allowing products made in New York state to be sold onboard.
The BIG Yellow Fellow upheld its ideals for supporting small businesses when it made its debut during the St. Patrick’s Parade in Downtown Syracuse. Since then, the barcycle has made plans for several other appearances throughout the Syracuse area.
Through the continued use of the BIG Yellow Fellow, Koch said that she believed that hope for revival lies in the solutions that bring a lively spirit back into the town, which is what the project would provide.
-Molly Bollan