‘A party on wheels’ sets its sights on Hartford
Pedal pubs, which act as a cross between a mobile bar and a street trolley, are manually controlled by up to 15 riders who sit facing a central bar area and pedal with their legs much like on a bicycle. The idea is riders can drink, eat, listen to music, and take in the scenery all while getting a little exercise.
You may be able to soon drink and pedal in a second Connecticut city.
Hartford City council members are considering bringing a pedal pub to the city. The vehicles — sometimes known as beer bikes or party bikes — are already popular in the South in several cities like Austin, Miami, and Charlotte.
Pedal pubs, which act as a cross between a mobile bar and a street trolley, are manually controlled by up to 15 riders who sit facing a central bar area and pedal with their legs much like on a bicycle. The idea is riders can drink, eat, listen to music, and take in the scenery all while getting a little exercise. Under Connecticut law, bicyclists cannot drink while operating much like driving a vehicle under the influence. But pedal pubs are manually steered by a trained driver who remains sober to ensure they are street legal.
Councilwoman Maly Rosado introduced the resolution for a pedal pub after she talked with local leaders about the success New Haven has had with its Elm City Party Bike.
“The city of New Haven has seen the successful implementation of a pedal pub, an innovative and eco-friendly mode of transportation and entertainment, and has been well received by both residents and visitors for its promotion of local businesses and community spirit,” according to the resolution drafted by Rosado.
Pedal Pub, a franchise which operates in over 50 cities in the U.S. and Canada,
markets the vehicles as an eco-friendly way to drive tourism and resident engagement while providing revenue to small businesses. The vehicle tours last around two hours and make stops along a dedicated route in a city’s downtown area. Pedal Pub recommends each franchise owner to purchase and operate two bikes, according to its website.
New Haven’s Elm City Party Bike, which has been operating since 2017, gives two-hour rides through the Downtown, East Rock and Wooster Square districts and makes stops at popular bars, restaurants and shops. The business, which is independently operated and not affiliated with Pedal Pub, was started in 2017 by Colin Caplan and Christian Bruckhart. Each ride costs $40 and private party tours cost up to $500, according to Caplan.
“We draw from all over Connecticut. Our riders are not from just New Haven but even people from Rhode Island and Massachusetts,” Caplan said. “We get a lot of people who are locals who do this every year. We get graduating students, birthday parties, bachelorette parties. It’s probably 80% state residents and 20% out of state tourists. We even do food tours, history tours, and ghost tours that are non-alcoholic.”
The proposal for Hartford would include both alcoholic and more family friendly non-alcoholic tours in both the Downtown and around Bushnell Park, according to Pedal Pub’s Hartford plan. The bike would be operable from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.
All passengers aboard alcoholic tours must be at least 21 years old. Riders must bring their own snacks and beverages on-board including beer, seltzer and wine. The company does not allow hard liquor or any beverages in glass containers.
Pedal Pub franchise owners Brenden and Janet Floyd along would be in charge of Hartford’s day-to-day operations. The pair, who live in nearby Bristol, said this is their first time operating a pedal pub bike. Floyd said that they hope to have the bikes on the streets of Hartford by mid-June and that individual ticket prices would be $39 and around $500 for private parties.
“We thought about West Hartford and Glastonbury, but we had a lot of fighting going back and forth. Hartford has really embraced us. We want to go to the city that really wants us,” Floyd said.