{{Short description|Vehicle powered by multiple people pedaling}} thumb|A party bike in Christchurch, New Zealand. A '''party bike''', '''conference bike''', '''pedal pub''', '''fietscafé''', '''bierfiets''', '''beer bike''' or '''bar bike''' is a multi-passenger human powered vehicle that is powered by the passengers. Human-powered party bikes have grown into several families of vehicles for a variety of purposes, including tourist rentals and private touring.<ref name="blockaboutbeer">{{cite web |url=http://www.blogaboutbeer.com/its-a-pub-its-a-bike-its-cycle-pub |title=It's a pub it's a bike |date=24 February 2011 |publisher=blogaboutbeer.com |access-date=2011-04-20}}</ref>
==Party bike== A '''party bike''' was invented in 1997 by Het Fietscafe BV from the Netherlands.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Hearst|first=Michael|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ReIXEAAAQBAJ&dq=Party+bike+Het+Fietscafe+BV&pg=PA16|title=Unconventional Vehicles: Forty-Five of the Strangest Cars, Trains, Planes, Submersibles, Dirigibles, and Rockets EVER|date=2021-05-18|publisher=Chronicle Books|isbn=978-1-4521-7306-1}}</ref> A party bike is sometimes mistaken for a larger-scale version of a pedicab (cycle rickshaw), but it is not, since the party bike is powered by the passengers, while the steering and braking is controlled by a driver who does not provide pedaling power. Some also double as rolling refreshment stands.<ref name="inhabitat">{{cite web|url=http://inhabitat.com/the-party-bike-a-10-seater-free-wheelin-fiesta |title=A ten person free-wheelin' fiesta |date=31 March 2011 |publisher=inhabitat.com |access-date=2011-03-31}}</ref><ref name="BeerBike Paris">{{cite web|url=https://www.demitour-paris.com |title=Balades insolites à vélo dans Paris |publisher=demitour-paris.com |access-date=2019-06-03}}</ref> Party bikes are often used for staff parties and bachelor or bachelorette parties. They are often available at tourist attractions where they are rented by the hour or day.<ref name="inhabitat"/> When used in conjunction with alcohol, a party bike usually is hired with a driver.
===Construction=== A modern tourist party bike usually features open seating for eight or more riders in a sociable configuration. These vehicles are often designed to look like early 20th century trolley cars and have side seating for the pedalers, a bench seat in the rear, rack-and-pinion steering, and a canopy top. A few manufacturers offer an electric assist motor to aid the riders on hilly terrain.<ref name="pedalcrawler">{{cite web|url=http://www.pedalcrawler.com |title=The Pedal Crawler |publisher=pedalcrawler.com |access-date=2013-02-09}}</ref><ref name="thepartybike">{{cite web |url=http://www.thepartybike.com |title=The party bike |publisher=thepartybike.com |access-date=2011-03-26}}</ref> Modern party bikes are typically {{cvt|15|-|20|ft|m|sigfig=1|order=flip}} long, {{cvt|7|ft|m|sigfig=1|order=flip}} wide and {{cvt|8|ft|m|order=flip}} tall, making them similar in size to a large car. Because they are driven on municipal streets, some have headlights, tail lights, and turn signals.<ref name="pedalcrawler"/><ref name="thepartybike"/>
===Serving beer=== thumb|right|A party bike serving beer in Ulm, Germany. These pedal pubs-on-wheels have become popular in the United States, as well as the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and France.<ref name="BeerBike Paris"/> Some party bikes can have up to 16 cycling passengers, three non-cycling passengers, bar tenders and a driver.<ref name="blockaboutbeer"/><ref name="pedalcrawler"/><ref name="thepartybike"/> In many European municipalities, it is legal to consume alcohol while pedaling or riding on the party bike, provided the driver is not imbibing. However, strict state-based open container laws in the United States prevent most party bike passengers from consuming alcohol while on board except in certain municipalities.<ref>See United States open-container laws.</ref> In some locations, the driver is required to have a chauffeur's driver's license to operate on public streets. Generally, a company or individual will own the party bike and rent it out to the public for tours. The party bike is often associated with microbrewery tourism.<ref>[http://seattlebikeblog.com/2011/02/23/the-cycle-pub-is-alive/ "The Cycle Pub is Alive!"] ''Seattle Bike Blog''. Retrieved 26 March 2011</ref> It can be seen used by corporations for team building and retreat activities, groups such as wedding parties, birthday parties,<ref>[http://alttransport.com/2011/03/celebrate-your-birthday-on-this-party-bike/?fb_ref=single&fb_source=home_oneline "Celebrate Your Birthday On This Party Bike"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727233354/http://alttransport.com/2011/03/celebrate-your-birthday-on-this-party-bike/?fb_ref=single&fb_source=home_oneline |date=2011-07-27}} Retrieved 31 March 2011</ref> coffee drinkers, exercise groups, and sightseers.<ref>[http://www.glamour.com/health-fitness/blogs/vitamin-g/2011/03/omg-its-a-bicycle--thats-also.html 07 March 2011 "OMG: It's a Bicycle--That's Also a Bar!"] ''Glamour''. Retrieved 26 March 2011</ref>
===Bans=== Problems with noise and traffic jams led to a ban on beer bikes in the centre of Amsterdam from the end of 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://nltimes.nl/2017/04/11/amsterdam-ban-beer-bikes-city-center-november |title=Amsterdam to Ban Beer Bikes in City Center from November |work=NL Times |date=11 April 2017}}</ref>
===Accidents and incidents=== On August 15, 2013, in downtown Minneapolis, a full party bike operated by a large beer bike company tipped onto its right side. Two of the riders were taken to the hospital by ambulance. A police spokesperson stated that "Alcohol does not appear to be a factor."<ref>[http://www.startribune.com/local/west/219824091.html "2 taken to hospital after pedal pub tips over in downtown Minneapolis"]{{Dead link|date=August 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, ''Star Tribune''. Retrieved 12 February 2014</ref> Earlier in the year, the city had entertained introducing new regulations and licensing for party bikes.<ref>[http://www.startribune.com/local/blogs/186532421.html "Minneapolis considers new rules for 'pedal pubs'"], ''Star Tribune''. Retrieved 12 February 2014</ref>
==Conference bike== The '''ConferenceBike''' is a 7-seat human powered vehicle created by artist Eric Staller and manufactured in The Netherlands. One person steers and all may pedal .<ref>[http://www.conferencebike.com ConferenceBike]. Retrieved 23 February 2011</ref> The bike has a circular jointed drive-shaft and rack & pinion steering. In most countries, it has the same legal status as a bicycle. There are now over 300 ConferenceBikes in 18 countries.
===Purpose=== [[File:Google Conference Bike.jpg|thumb|Conference Bike at the Googleplex]] The ConferenceBike is used primarily for tourism, and used as a team building tool at corporations and university campuses. Google Inc. has nine bikes in use for transportation and team building on their campus.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://video.wired.com/watch/google-conference-bike |title=Google ConferenceBike Video Retrieved 3 June 2014 |access-date=17 December 2023 |archive-date=24 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190424131959/https://video.wired.com/watch/google-conference-bike |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.alfred.edu/pressreleases/viewrelease.cfm?ID=5672 | date=7 October 2009 | title=Alfred University puts a new spin on college tours | publisher=Alfred University | accessdate=14 January 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130117025313/http://www.alfred.edu/pressreleases/viewrelease.cfm?ID=5672 | archive-date=17 January 2013 | url-status=dead }}</ref>
The Washington, D.C. Veterans Health Administration Medical Center has a ConferenceBike that was donated by Eric Staller's father. It is used by employees and veterans for recreational and fundraising events.<ref>[http://www.washingtondc.va.gov/news/DCVAMC_Receives_Unique_Donation.asp DCVAMC Receives Unique Donation Retrieved 3 June 2014]</ref>
===Specifications=== *'''Length:''' {{convert|2.50|m|ftin|abbr=on}} *'''Width:''' {{convert|1.80|m|ftin|abbr=on}} *'''Weight:''' {{convert|220|kg|lb|abbr=on}}
==See also== {{commons and category|Party bikes}} * Outline of cycling
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * [http://www.conferencebike.com Official ConferenceBike website] * [https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&source=hp&q=us+patent+D520%2C913S&gbv=2&oq=us+patent+D520%2C913S&gs_l=heirloom-hp.3...1825.16223.0.16629.19.10.0.9.3.0.187.764.9j1.10.0....0...1ac.1.34.heirloom-hp..7.12.765.Qk6Hz71IvSM Eric Staller Design Patent] * [http://www.ericstaller.com Personal website of Eric Staller]
{{Human-powered vehicles}}
Category:Cycle types Category:Transport in Amsterdam Category:Beer culture Category:Drinking culture