Car Insurance

Don Swedo received quite a bit of flack over his proposal to lease a former gas station at the corner of Ramon Road and Indian Canyon Drive for a motorcycle rental business. Then someone suggested that the president of Harley Davidson Motorcycle Rentals & Tours open his business at the Palm Springs International Airport, where there “was always a lot of noise.”

Last week Swedo made his case before the airport commission where he found a ready reception from its members who were, perhaps, titillated by the prospect of renting a space that had been vacant for most of nine years - a baggage claim area on the south side of the terminal.

With Swedo present, the commissioners approved leasing him space to be used as a service counter, maintenance lot, and storage for an annual rental of $25,322 or $2,110 monthly.

Swedo allayed commission concerns that swarms of snarling Harleys would inundate the airport. He indicated that usually not more than eight rental cycles would be kept on the taxiway on a regular basis. He did mention that about 15 bikers were to meet in Palm Springs last Friday to make a trek to Idyllwild.

There would be bikes to rent and bikes to sell (the price of some Harleys now runs up to $20,000.). The firm charges a $1,000 security deposit for each bike rental, and each has a $3 million liability coverage.

The city, as a part of its lease deal, could ask for 10 percent of all motorcycle rentals. The city had been in negotiation with Swedo well in advance of the April 18th meeting.