PedalPub: Bringing the Bar to the Bike 16

PedalPub Twin Cities – photo by Matt Johnson

Why bring the bike to the bar when you can bring the bar to the bike?

PedalPub is a human-powered mobile pub which was recently spotted in Minneapolis, Minnesota by our friend George who was visiting the Twin Cities for a conference.

Known as “the bike with the barrel”, the PedalPub is powered by its patrons while they enjoy a tasty cold beer. It’s a great way to see the city, get some exercise and enjoy a beer.

The Minneapolis PedalPub was started by two friends, Eric Olson and Al Boyce after they spotted the original version of PedalPub in Amsterdam (known as Fietscafe or Bierfiets in Dutch).

Eric and Al, both of whom had day jobs, bought their first PedalPub in 2007 with an initial $60,000 investment from savings and home equity loans. They have since grown the business to eleven PedalPubs in Twin Cities, plus other licensees in several cities throughout the United States.

The original PedalPub was invented by two Dutch brothers, Henk and Zwier van Laar, who have been operating their Fietscafe in the Netherlands since 1997.

The price for renting the Minneapolis PedalPub ranges from $240 for a one and a half hour weekday tour, to $380 for a 2-hour weekend tour. The rental includes a pilot to steer the PedalPub, but passengers are required to bring their own beverages of choice (either in coolers or via mini kegs).

The PedalPub weighs 2,340 pounds (empty), has a top speed of 5mph and can hold up to 16 passengers, plus the pilot. There are 5 seats on each side with pedals plus two without, a bench for three in the back, and a space for a standing bartender in the middle.

PedalPub Twin Cities – photo by Matt Johnson

It certainly isn’t the fastest way to tour a city, but I can’t think of a more fun way to enjoy a beer with friends.

This is definitely something I would like to invest in.

James D. Schwartz is the Editor of The Urban Country. You can contact James at james.schwartz@theurbancountry.com or follow him on Twitter.

Related Articles:

Human Power Around The World (April 2012)
Dutch Cycling Promotion. Good For The Body, Legs & The Eyes (March 2012)
The World Has Changed. So Can You. (April 2011)
Roads Weren’t Build For Cars (July 2011)

Al Boyce

ELEVEN pubs in the Twin Cities now, not six!
- http://www.theurbancountry.com James Schwartz
  
  Excellent! I was looking at a dated article then Will update now.
Al Boyce

ELEVEN pubs in the Twin Cities now, not six!
http://www.theurbancountry.com/ James Schwartz

Excellent! I was looking at a dated article then Will update now.
http://profiles.google.com/aliannack Alicia Ackerman

Top speed of 5mph and it might need some help going up hills or over bridges.
The fraternity students rent these every year during their orientation week in Leiden, Netherlands. Quite a business! And not so neat and orderly as in the press photo.
http://cyclingwithoutahelmet.blogspot.nl/2011/08/el-cid-week.html
- http://www.theurbancountry.com James Schwartz
  
  That must have been hilarious watching those drunk kids push the fietscafe over the canal
http://profiles.google.com/aliannack Alicia Ackerman

Top speed of 5mph and it might need some help going up hills or over bridges.
The fraternity students rent these every year during their orientation week in Leiden, Netherlands. Quite a business! And not so neat and orderly as in the press photo.
http://cyclingwithoutahelmet.blogspot.nl/2011/08/el-cid-week.html
Boyan Tsolov

Wait, so you pay $240, but it’s BYOB?
- http://www.theurbancountry.com James Schwartz
  
  Yup, but $240 is split between 16 people, so it’s $15 each for a guided tour. And besides, it would be cheaper to bring your own beer than to pay $5 a bottle or whatever it would cost if sold on the bike…
Boyan Tsolov

Wait, so you pay $240, but it’s BYOB?
http://www.theurbancountry.com/ James Schwartz

Lol, yeah. But $240 is split between 16 people, so it’s $15 each for a guided tour. And besides, it would be cheaper to bring your own beer than to pay $5 a bottle or whatever it would cost if sold on the bike…
http://www.theurbancountry.com/ James Schwartz

That must have been hilarious watching those drunk kids push the fietscafe over the canal
Justin Kremer

I live in Minneapolis, and I’m really not crazy about these. For one group of people they are cementing the notion that bikes are strictly a recreational thing, and no good for transportation. For another group it reinforces the idea that bikes are always in their way while they’re trying to drive through the city.
Justin Kremer

I live in Minneapolis, and I’m really not crazy about these. For one group of people they are cementing the notion that bikes are strictly a recreational thing, and no good for transportation. For another group it reinforces the idea that bikes are always in their way while they’re trying to drive through the city.
Jude Crowe

Wow this looks absolutely zany! This is exactly the kind of things you have to do at least once! I wish i could have something as out of the ordinary as this in my town. The only thing different here is we have barkeeps that yodel. I read somewhere that even the worlds best bars don’t have this kind of pizazz!
Jude Crowe

Wow this looks absolutely zany! This is exactly the kind of things you have to do at least once! I wish i could have something as out of the ordinary as this in my town. The only thing different here is we have barkeeps that yodel. I read somewhere that even the worlds best bars don’t have this kind of pizazz!