Fun facts about PedalPub

magictoken via Flickr.com

​In May 2008, an amendment to a Minnesota state law took effect regarding the legal consumption of alcohol under certain conditions. One of those changes made it permissible to drink on a "vehicle that is operated for commercial purposes in a manner similar to a bicycle...with five or more passengers who provide pedal power."

The only vehicle we can think of that fits that description is something called the PedalPub. So we contacted Al Boyce, managing partner of PedalPub Twin Cities, LLC, to ask him about his self-described "bar on wheels that you pedal." Why? Because seeing this contraption casually wheeling down the street by a boisterous group of people with beverages in their hands tends to raise more questions than answer them.

The devices are manufactured in the Netherlands and were created there by brothers Zwier and Henk van Laarand. So these traveling pubs are enjoyed internationally in places like Amsterdam and Germany for example, in areas where the terrain is flat. While the Minnesotan version provides pre-planned trips, customers are welcome to suggest routes of their own.

According to Boyce, the typical response at first sight of a pedal pub is "I need to be on one of those!" And it seems many people do end up bellying up to the bar with pedal power. He estimates the mileage on PedalPub into the millions.

People tend to rent the 16-person bar on wheels to celebrate special occasions. A grandmother's 80th birthday party was the oddest event Boyce ever rented out to. As for his favorite story, Boyce is keeping quiet: "What happens on the PedalPub stays on the PedalPub."

Visit the PedalPub website for rental prices, routes and general information.

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