Party bike explained

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 long, wide and 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

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

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

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: It's a pub it's a bike . blogaboutbeer.com . 2011-04-20.
  2. Book: Hearst, Michael. Unconventional Vehicles: Forty-Five of the Strangest Cars, Trains, Planes, Submersibles, Dirigibles, and Rockets EVER. 2021-05-18. Chronicle Books. 978-1-4521-7306-1.
  3. Web site: A ten person free-wheelin' fiesta . inhabitat.com . 2011-03-31.
  4. Web site: Balades insolites à vélo dans Paris . demitour-paris.com . 2019-06-03.
  5. Web site: The Pedal Crawler . pedalcrawler.com . 2013-02-09.
  6. Web site: The party bike . thepartybike.com . 2011-03-26.
  7. See United States open-container laws.
  8. http://seattlebikeblog.com/2011/02/23/the-cycle-pub-is-alive/ "The Cycle Pub is Alive!"
  9. http://alttransport.com/2011/03/celebrate-your-birthday-on-this-party-bike/?fb_ref=single&fb_source=home_oneline "Celebrate Your Birthday On This Party Bike"
  10. http://www.glamour.com/health-fitness/blogs/vitamin-g/2011/03/omg-its-a-bicycle--thats-also.html 07 March 2011 "OMG: It's a Bicycle--That's Also a Bar!"
  11. Web site: Amsterdam to Ban Beer Bikes in City Center from November . NL Times . 11 April 2017.
  12. http://www.startribune.com/local/west/219824091.html "2 taken to hospital after pedal pub tips over in downtown Minneapolis"
  13. http://www.startribune.com/local/blogs/186532421.html "Minneapolis considers new rules for 'pedal pubs'"
  14. http://www.conferencebike.com ConferenceBike
  15. http://video.wired.com/watch/google-conference-bike Google ConferenceBike Video Retrieved 3 June 2014
  16. Web site: Alfred University puts a new spin on college tours . 7 October 2009 . Alfred University . 14 January 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130117025313/http://www.alfred.edu/pressreleases/viewrelease.cfm?ID=5672 . 17 January 2013 . dead .
  17. http://www.washingtondc.va.gov/news/DCVAMC_Receives_Unique_Donation.asp DCVAMC Receives Unique Donation Retrieved 3 June 2014