Party Bike

"Beer Bike" redirects here. For the "Beer Bike" bicycle race, see Rice University.

Photo of a Party Bike

A party bike, pedibus, pedal pub, cycle pub, beer bike, or bierbike is a multi-passenger human powered vehicle. A party bike is a larger scale version of a pedicab, but it is pedal driven by the passengers while the steering and braking is controlled by the driver. Some also double as a rolling refreshment stands.^[1] Human-powered party bikes have been in use for decades and have grown into several families of vehicles for a variety of purposes, including tourist rentals, pedal taxis and private touring.^[2] They are often available at tourist attractions where they are rented by the hour or day and often serve as a rolling refreshment stand.^[1] When used in conjunction with alcohol, the driver is usually hired with the party bike.

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.^[3] Modern party bikes are typically fifteen to twenty feet long, seven feet wide and eight feet tall. Because they are driven on municipal streets, some manufacturers include headlights, tail lights and turn signals, as well as lighting for use at night.^[3]

Serving beer

These pub on wheels have become popular in Germany and other European countries. Some party bikes can have up to 12 cycling passengers, three non-cycling passengers, bar tenders and a driver.^[3][2] In most municipalities, it is legal to consume alcohol while pedaling or riding on the party bike, provided the driver is not imbibing. 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 the micro beer tourism industry,^[4] however, the party bike is becoming popular with the non-drinking crowd as well. It is now being used by corporations for team building and retreat activities. In addition, groups such as wedding parties, birthday parties,^[5] coffee drinkers, exercise groups and sight seers are becoming avid users of the party bike.^[6]

Party bikes around the world

• 

  Seen in action on London Bridge

• 

  A 'bierfiets' in Utrecht
  the Netherlands

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  The Pedal Pub in Minneapolis

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  A beer bike in Berlin

See also

• Conference Bike
• Fietscafe

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "A ten person free-wheelin' fiesta". inhabitat.com. http://inhabitat.com/the-party-bike-a-10-seater-free-wheelin-fiesta. Retrieved 2011-03-31. 
2. ^ ^{a b} "It's a pub its a bike". blogaboutbeer.com. http://www.blogaboutbeer.com/its-a-pub-its-a-bike-its-cycle-pub. Retrieved 2011-04-20. 
3. ^ ^{a b c} "The party bike". thepartybike.com. http://www.thepartybike.com. Retrieved 2011-03-26. 
4. ^ The Cycle Pub is Alive! Retrieved 26 March 2011
5. ^ Celebrate Your Birthday On This Party Bike Retrieved 31 March 2011
6. ^ 07 March 2011 OMG: It's A Bicycle--That's Also A Bar! Retrieved 26 March 2011

External links

• The City Cycle tours
• City Cycle custom manufacturing by Caztek, Inc.
• Pedal Pub tours
• The Party Bike
• Atek Customs