Rick Dahlenburg drove a cab around Bend for about a month last year before he began to wonder why local companies didn’t throw ski racks onto the roofs of their vehicles, or use four-wheel drive.

It seemed to him those features would come in handy when running a passenger to Mt. Bachelor or simply trying to reach an address on Awbrey Butte in the snow.

The idea for X Cab, an adventure taxi service, was born. Dahlenburg sold his friend, business owner and entrepreneur Bruce Stevens, on the concept, and the two launched the business in January.

The X Cab fleet consists of two used Ford Expedition SUVs equipped with rugged tires and roof and bike racks.

“I wanted it to look off-roady and tough,” Dahlenburg said.

He estimates he and Stevens invested about $20,000 in the business. He said he worked connections at local dealerships to buy the vehicles, bought enough commercial insurance to satisfy the Redmond Airport’s requirements, obtained licenses and started driving.

Dahlenburg, 44, formerly worked the rodeo circuit, specializing in the team roping event, and worked in construction. He enjoys working outdoors and for himself.

“Profit’s always better than wages,” he said.

Driving seven days a week and dispatching all rides himself, Dahlenburg is living the life of a small-business owner. He has a second driver, who pays a flat fee to use the vehicle, and is looking for two more.

Stevens, who also owns the drilling and blasting firm Apex Explosives and North Rim Brewing, has the proper license to drive for X Cab but doesn’t, Dahlenburg said.

After a spring-break season that lasted more than a month, he said X Cab is generating enough revenue to cover its expenses and his salary.

Many of his rides are indeed adventure-oriented. He runs skiers from their hotels to Mt. Bachelor and cyclists with their bikes home to Sunriver after excursions to Bend. Come summer, he has multiple rides booked from the Redmond Airport to Pacific Crest Trail trailheads.

“You’d be amazed how many people fly here to hike the PCT,” he said.

The rest of the business is what one would expect from any taxi company. X Cab does a lot of airport runs for corporate clients, Dahlenburg said, and people who need a ride home from the bar or brewery are another steady source of cash. Dahlenburg hopes to drop the nighttime business once the summer tourism season is in full swing.

X Cab’s rates are competitive with traditional taxi services, Dahlenburg said. A ride to the Redmond airport costs $35, a ride to Mt. Bachelor costs $40 and a ride to Elk Lake costs $60, whether for one person or six.

More unusual routes are up for negotiation, he said. “Because there hasn’t been anything like this before, we’ll work with the person.”

— Reporter: 541-617-7860, kmclaughlin@bendbulletin.com

Q: How difficult is it to get licensed as a new taxi service in Bend?

A: Rick Dahlenburg: First you have a city business license. To get licensed as a taxi driver, you go to the police department for a criminal background check. The whole process takes 15 to 20 minutes. You pay Oregon State Police to run the check, and they actually do it afterward. Way too easy.

Q: Did you hesitate at all to start a taxi service in the era of ride sharing?

A: A lot of people ask me about Uber. Uber has some sketchy issues to begin with. It takes away from those of us doing it legitimately. We’re paying insurance. We do it all the time. It’s not just a quick buck.

Q: And how will you compete against Uber or Lyft if those services become available in Bend?

A: People like Uber because there’s so many (drivers available at any one time). I don’t think there’s enough of them (to make it a viable enterprise in Bend).