Party bike

A party bike in Christchurch, New Zealand.

A party bike, conference bike, pedal pub, fietscafé, bierfiets, beer bike or bar bike is a multi-passenger human powered vehicle that is powered by the passengers. Human-powered party bikes have grown into several families of vehicles for a variety of purposes, including tourist rentals and private touring.[1]

Party bike

A party bike was invented in 1997 by Het Fietscafe BV from the Netherlands.[2] A party bike is sometimes mistaken for a larger-scale version of a pedicab (cycle rickshaw), but it is not, since the party bike is powered by the passengers, while the steering and braking is controlled by a driver who does not provide pedaling power. Some also double as rolling refreshment stands.[3][4] Party bikes are often used for staff parties and bachelor or bachelorette parties. They are often available at tourist attractions where they are rented by the hour or day.[3] When used in conjunction with alcohol, a party bike usually is hired with a driver.

Construction

A modern tourist party bike usually features open seating for eight or more riders in a sociable configuration. These vehicles are often designed to look like early 20th century trolley cars and have side seating for the pedalers, a bench seat in the rear, rack-and-pinion steering, and a canopy top. A few manufacturers offer an electric assist motor to aid the riders on hilly terrain.[5][6] Modern party bikes are typically 5–6 m (15–20 ft) long, 2 m (7 ft) wide and 2.4 m (8 ft) tall, making them similar in size to a large car. Because they are driven on municipal streets, some have headlights, tail lights, and turn signals.[5][6]

Serving beer

A party bike serving beer in Ulm, Germany.

These pedal pubs-on-wheels have become popular in the United States, as well as the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and France.[4] Some party bikes can have up to 16 cycling passengers, three non-cycling passengers, bar tenders and a driver.[1][5][6] In many European municipalities, it is legal to consume alcohol while pedaling or riding on the party bike, provided the driver is not imbibing. However, strict state-based open container laws in the United States prevent most party bike passengers from consuming alcohol while on board except in certain municipalities.[7] In some locations, the driver is required to have a chauffeur's driver's license to operate on public streets. Generally, a company or individual will own the party bike and rent it out to the public for tours. The party bike is often associated with microbrewery tourism.[8] It can be seen used by corporations for team building and retreat activities, groups such as wedding parties, birthday parties,[9] coffee drinkers, exercise groups, and sightseers.[10]

Bans

Problems with noise and traffic jams led to a ban on beer bikes in the centre of Amsterdam from the end of 2017.[11]

Accidents and incidents

On August 15, 2013, in downtown Minneapolis, a full party bike operated by a large beer bike company tipped onto its right side. Two of the riders were taken to the hospital by ambulance. A police spokesperson stated that "Alcohol does not appear to be a factor."[12] Earlier in the year, the city had entertained introducing new regulations and licensing for party bikes.[13]

Conference bike

The ConferenceBike is a 7-seat human powered vehicle created by artist Eric Staller and manufactured in The Netherlands. One person steers and all may pedal .[14] The bike has a circular jointed drive-shaft and rack & pinion steering. In most countries, it has the same legal status as a bicycle. There are now over 300 ConferenceBikes in 18 countries.

Purpose

Conference Bike at the Googleplex

The ConferenceBike is used primarily for tourism, and used as a team building tool at corporations and university campuses. Google Inc. has nine bikes in use for transportation and team building on their campus.[15][16]

The Washington, D.C. Veterans Health Administration Medical Center has a ConferenceBike that was donated by Eric Staller's father. It is used by employees and veterans for recreational and fundraising events.[17]

Specifications

  • Length: 2.50 m (8 ft 2 in)
  • Width: 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
  • Weight: 220 kg (490 lb)

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:
Party bikes (category)

References

  1. ^ a b "It's a pub it's a bike". blogaboutbeer.com. Retrieved 2011-04-20.
  2. ^ Hearst, Michael (2021-05-18). Unconventional Vehicles: Forty-Five of the Strangest Cars, Trains, Planes, Submersibles, Dirigibles, and Rockets EVER. Chronicle Books. ISBN 978-1-4521-7306-1.
  3. ^ a b "A ten person free-wheelin' fiesta". inhabitat.com. Retrieved 2011-03-31.
  4. ^ a b "Balades insolites à vélo dans Paris". demitour-paris.com. Retrieved 2019-06-03.
  5. ^ a b c "The Pedal Crawler". pedalcrawler.com. Retrieved 2013-02-09.
  6. ^ a b c "The party bike". thepartybike.com. Retrieved 2011-03-26.
  7. ^ See United States open-container laws.
  8. ^ "The Cycle Pub is Alive!" Seattle Bike Blog. Retrieved 26 March 2011
  9. ^ "Celebrate Your Birthday On This Party Bike" Archived 2011-07-27 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 31 March 2011
  10. ^ 07 March 2011 "OMG: It's a Bicycle--That's Also a Bar!" Glamour. Retrieved 26 March 2011
  11. ^ "Amsterdam to Ban Beer Bikes in City Center from November". NL Times. 11 April 2017.
  12. ^ "2 taken to hospital after pedal pub tips over in downtown Minneapolis", Star Tribune. Retrieved 12 February 2014
  13. ^ "Minneapolis considers new rules for 'pedal pubs'", Star Tribune. Retrieved 12 February 2014
  14. ^ ConferenceBike. Retrieved 23 February 2011
  15. ^ Google ConferenceBike Video Retrieved 3 June 2014
  16. ^ "Alfred University puts a new spin on college tours". Alfred University. 7 October 2009. Archived from the original on 17 January 2013. Retrieved 14 January 2013.
  17. ^ DCVAMC Receives Unique Donation Retrieved 3 June 2014