These 'beer bikes' seem to be gaining popularity, as evidenced by the California senate's attention to them. Apparently they can reach 9-12mph but cruise comfortably around 5mph. This is with fairly inexperienced (and somewhat drunk) pedalers, so could sober people who use this as a regular form of transportation achieve higher speeds? Could such human-powered vehicles be used as transit shuttles in some situations or will they always remain a novelty; and if so, why?

California Senate Allows "Beer Bikes" to Run on Streets

We Test the Pedal Pub, a 16-Person Alcohol-Fueled Party Bike ? Feature ? Car and Driver | Car and Driver Blog

This thing weighs more than two tons. Wow!

We've had pedal pubs in Minneapolis for a few years. I've been on one a couple times. They are TANKS. The ONLY way to get them going fast is down hill.

We had a wreck in Minneapolis a couple years ago, driver let it go into a turn too fast off a down hill.

I know the common comment, "you can't let a drunk drive..." and you are correct, the only person allowed to operate the steering, brake, and engage the drive train is the paid driver. The drivers are not allowed to drink, like the bus driver on a party bus. There is one person from your party serving drinks. Typically there are a max of 10 stokers, 5 duffers and one bartender.

My review, they are fun, but nothing I'd go out of my way to sign up for.

Forgot, here's a picture of our pedal pub last summer - I'm the dork with the cycling cap (of course!):



I wish I'd had my Garmin running to see our speeds and distance, we just looped around downtown for a couple hours.

Now if they put a piano and a singer in the middle, that would be alright. (Obviously I'm a non-drinker.)

I can see it for a group of friends, bachelor party, or team building event. That might be fun. But if you tried to turn it into a transport shuttle...BORING!!!

Speak of the Minneapolis Pedal Pub . . Did you see the news? Apparently there are Pedal Pub haters out there. And those haters ride BICYCLES! They hate the Pedal Pub so much they organized an "Attack" on the pedal pubs with squirt guns and water balloons. Unfortunately for them, the Pedal Pub was being pedaled by six off duty cops. The results are predictable!

You've got to read the story - it's hard to believe it is an actual news story and not something from the Onion. Best laugh I've had in a long time!

Cyclists attack PedalPubs with squirt guns in Minneapolis; six arrested - StarTribune.com

Five are charged in weekend Minneapolis PedalPub attacks - StarTribune.com

fify

This is the talk around town. I'm just doing this:



We've been saying the same thing, sounds like an story out of the Onion. But nope, this is my city.

When we were out on the Pedal Pub last summer, we heard some haters. Specifically, I remember we were on the second or third round (we were buzzed) and talking/laughing loudly and a woman on the sidewalk shouted at us, "YOU'RE TOO LOUD! THIS IS A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD!!". We were no louder than a group walking from one bar to the next. It was 5:30 PM, the rush hour traffic was louder than we were. And she was clearly louder than we were... irony.

In Minneapolis, Pedal Pubs are used mostly by middle-age suburbanites to party in downtown. They tend to act like a bunch of frat boys. I know that the operators (drivers) try to keep the patrons from being obnoxious, but I'd say it's like herding cats. Bottom line, these bike-bars are not loved by people that live in Minneapolis.

Going back to my first reaction: *facepalm*

sigh

At first I thought the beer bikes were mildly amusing. But after reading this post, I'm pretty much against them. I live in a residential area near a downtown and the last thing I want are more "suburban frat boys" yukking it up when I want the peaceful use of my home.

The science of pedal pub hatred
NewsCut Bob Collins Minnesota Public Radio

If that's all you have to worry about in Minneapolis...lucky you.

Across the river, in St Paul, issue are less serious.... only 2 tons of car with 'distracted' drivers piling into the sidewalk, hurting people:
[h=1]Apparently distracted driver hits 4 people on Grand Avenue sidewalk[/h]Luckily for the driver, no water ballons were involved otherwise the police would have really gone after him.

Another article: Drunk Justice? Water-Wielding Hooligans Squirt Cops On ?Pedal Pub? | Gear Junkie

This included video after the cops dismounted the pedal pub and restrained the hooligans.

Still doing this:

All I have to say about beer bikes.

I've never actually been on the pedal pub, surprisingly, as it combines two of my favorite activities . I was always kinda, MEH, I can ride my real bike to real pubs (that have real bathrooms!).

But NOW, when you ride a pedal pub, you are not just riding a very slow moving beer vehicle. No, now you are riding straight into the EYE of the swirling pedal pub controversy! Somehow, that now seems exciting - I may have to sign up!

This happened to us when we were on the pedal pub last summer. Sadly, I was on the wrong side and nobody slapped my butt.

The latest press on the infamous water attack in Minneapolis:

[h=1]The Mastermind of the Daring Pedal Pub Squirt Gun Raid Finally Speaks[/h]
After reading, come back here to post something about stupid hipsters.

* sigh *

Two Minneapolis pedal pub stories this week:

Continuing saga of the water attack on the Pedal Pub: Most charges dismissed in pedal pub water balloon attack

And this collision last night with a Pedal Pub: 12 injured when car rear-ends Pedal Pub, knocking it over

I hope the charges for ramming the Pedal Pub with a car are greater than the charges for getting it wet.

Maybe Minneapolis needs to add new Pedal Pub lanes to the roads....