Rolling Pub Crawl Owners Sue City

Image via Zootpatrol.com.

Minneapolis-based PedalPub is a "bike-powered pub crawl." It's essentially a large bike, powered by 16 people pedaling, steered by a guide who sits behind a keg, that rolls from bar to bar. (Amstel Light has used a version of PedalPub in recent years around Wrigley Field.)

The owners of PedalPub have sued the city because they were denied a business license. PedalPub Chicago's Matt Graham said the city sees his company as a sightseeing operation. “Which we’re not," Graham said. "We can never be because we don’t operate a motorized vehicle.”

Graham is up front about Pedal Pub's intention to be nothing more than a bike-powered pub crawl. Having biked from bar to bar over the years ourselves, we're just a little bit jealous we hadn't hit upon this business model.

We can also see how the city is objecting to this, without outright coming out and saying the last thing they want to do is grant a business license to a rolling vehicle powered by drunks. Besides, the bike taxis at Wrigley Field and U.S. Cellular Field already serve as ad hoc bike bar crawls already.

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By Chuck Sudo in News on July 20, 2011 8:35 AM

Comments [rss]

voucher

Some components, which are often optional accessories on sports bicycles, are standard features on utility bicyclesto enhance their usefulness and comfort. Mudguards, orfenders, protect the cyclist and moving parts from spray when riding through wet areas and chainguards protect clothes from oil on the chain while preventing clothing from being caught between the chain and crankset teeth.

Brain Vadder aka Darth Fool

not to mention the laws about public intoxication alone, sooner or later some drunk will fall off and sue the pedal-pub people.

mike_thoms

Isn't it illegal to ride a bike while drunk?

Broan

They're just the power, the operator actually drives it.

Batman1234

You'd be shocked how broad the Illinois DUI law is. It's illegal to "operate" any "vehicle" while intoxicated. Operate = "use or control in any manner," and vehicle = anything on the road including bikes.

Broan

Guess I better make sure my car engine doesn't get any ethanol in it.

Broan

A recent Chicago Reader article explained that the city requires sightseeing licenses to use motorized vehicles.

Broan

Oh, it was TOC. http://timeoutchicago.com/thin...

BlueFairlane

... Matt Graham said the city sees his company as a sightseeing operation.
“Which we’re not," Graham said. "We can never be because we don’t
operate a motorized vehicle.”

So, Bobby's Bike Hike isn't a sightseeing tour?