Southport Magazine

For one Oak Island resident, going on adventures with her best friend sometimes means riding in an electric bicycle sidecar, custom made just for her. The wind whips through her curly hair as they ride, and she is positioned just right to take in all the sights and smells along the way. The sidecar even has her name on it — “Sydney Dog Delivery.”  That’s right. Sydney is a Silky Terrier, and her human friend, Mark Rollins, custom made her sidecar so she could ride right next to him whenever they take off somewhere.

Rollins joked that he came up with the idea for building the sidecar after a lot of Pabst Blue Ribbon beers. He bought the bike for $20 at an auction. With other dogs in the past, Rollins said he’d used a trailer, but decided that he wanted Sydney to ride next to him.

The project took about eight months. “There was a lot of sitting in the garage pondering what to do next,” he said. 

The sidecar is built like a crate, since it’s technically a delivery system for Sydney. Rollins, Director of Plant Operations at Dosher Memorial Hospital, said he is a welder by trade, so that part came easy. He built a vintage motorcycle years ago, and won the Rims on the River car show in Wilmington a couple of times. This was his first bike project involving wood, though, and he is really happy with how it turned out.

“It really popped,” he said.

The saddle bags were meant for a horse, but he reworked them to fit on the bicycle. After spending two months looking for something to use for a headlight, Rollins used a metal coffee canister from his kitchen counter. He said he wanted an authentic look, so there is a “pedestrian splitter” on the front and even a small leather pouch too, just the right size for delivering letters. 

Like many dog lovers, Rollins has had several dogs over the years, and he used to have a Labrador retriever. Then he got a Silky Terrier and really liked the breed. He said they’re lovable, playful and very easy to handle. 

“I never thought I would like small dogs, but I love them,” he said. 

During the day, while Rollins is at work, Sydney “works” too, spending the day with Rollins’ father and brother as an unofficial therapy dog.

“Dad would never even want a dog in the house, but he picks her up and holds her,” Rollins said. 

Sydney has already enjoyed some fame and recognition because of her sweet ride. She and her delivery vehicle were featured in Electric Bike Action Magazine out of California. And Sydney and her sidecar always turn heads when they’re out and about. Rollins said that people always want to pet her and take pictures with her.

“She’s just a phenomenal little dog,” he said.

Adventure is nothing new for Rollins, who used to race motorcycles back in the 1970s and 1980s. He won a couple state championships, and still uses his racing number, 618 — it’s even on the fender of his bicycle.

Plans are in the works for Sydney’s next adventure vehicle. Rollins has an electric mountain bike too, which he said makes him feel like he is 25 again, and he plans to make another sidecar with a vintage look for it so he can take Sydney out on trails. 

“I am still trying to be a kid,” Rollins said. “I am going to be a kid my whole life.”

Sydney doesn’t seem to mind that one bit.