Wyandotte Declares Its Downtown a Pedal Pub-Free Zone

The Downriver suburb of Wyandotte has officially declared its downtown a pedal pub-free zone. Under a new ordinance the multi-seat cycle pubs known for toting around legions of wooing riders on bar tours are now prohibited from operating in the city’s downtown area, the News Herald reports. Passengers are also barred from transporting, possessing, or consuming alcohol on the pedal-powered vehicles.

The state of Michigan legalized pedal pubs (Often described the legal term “quadricycle”) in 2015 and the law allows patrons to bring aboard and consume beer and wine on the vehicles. Operators are prohibited from drinking or serving passengers on the job. However, the law leaves final approval on pedal pubs up to local governments. Not long after, pedal pubs began popping up in Detroit and in 2016, the City of Detroit lifted its ban on drinking while riding on the pubs. A similar river-faring version known as a cycle boat hit the water last year in St. Claire Shores.

While Detroit’s ordinance was a boon to the burgeoning pedal pub industry in downtown, Wyandotte’s will likely have a cooling effect on cycle pub startups in the city. “It’s not good for business. And it’s not worth it for the customer, either,” Nick Blaszczyk, co-owner of Detroit Rolling Pub, tells the Metro Times. “It’s unfortunate because these pedal pubs can bring tourism and business to the city, so economically it’s not a smart decision either.”

• Wyandotte Regulates Pedal Pubs; Won’t Be Allowed in Downtown Area [News Herald]
• Wyandotte City Council Votes to Prohibit Pedal Pubs From Downtown [MT]
• Detroit Lifts Booze Ban on Pedal Pubs [ED]
• Booze-Loving Cycle Fiends Rejoice! Drinking on Pedal Pubs Is Legal in Michigan [ED]