Pedal Wagon adds drinks on board

Talk about a moving bar: Passengers on the Pedal Wagon can now drink beer or wine while riding.

The change is possible thanks to an exemption within House Bill 47, signed into law in April, that exempts "persons who are passengers on a commercial quadricycle" from the state's open container law. (That law also allows cities or townships of more than 35,000 people to establish outdoor refreshment areas, where open containers are allowed.)

For passengers on the Pedal Wagon, which books 15-person pedal parties through the streets of Downtown and Over-the-Rhine, it will mean they can drink either three 12-ounce beers or three six-ounce wine pours. Beer, which customers can bring themselves or purchase through the tour, must be in cans and be at, or below, 7 percent ABV. Because most wine comes in glass, which is not permitted on the bikes, all wine must be bought through the company. (Coolers with ice will be provided.) On tours with alcohol on board, all riders must be 21 and up.

Jack Heekin, co-founder of the company, expects the change to have a big impact on business – his and others.

"In states where this has passed, (similar companies') business has doubled," he said. "It will be good for us, our partnering bars will get more people and also for the city ... (because) a lot more people from outside the city are going to want to experience it."

Since it started in 2012, the Pedal Wagon has taken more than 35,000 riders through the city streets, Heekin said. The majority of those passengers are from outside of Downtown, either from the suburbs or other cities, he said. With the changes, he anticipates growing that business to 18,000 riders per year.

And though it might sound like a recipe for overindulgence, Heekin said his visits to other markets and conversations with operators who've been offering alcohol on board for years show the opposite.

"From our experience, people drink less (overall) on the tour because they don't feel as rushed to leave the bar," he said.

Changes to the tours themselves will support that. In the past, routes were 2.5 miles and visited four or five bars in two hours. Going forward, they'll cover four miles and visit two or three bars during the two-hour time frame, so riders will spend more time on the bike.

There's also no danger of drunken riders crashing the wagon, Heekin said: Though the passengers pedal, Pedal Wagon drivers are in control of the vehicles, which have hydraulic and cable-brake systems, turn signals and steering.

Pedal Wagon has 25 partner bars and restaurants now, and Heekin expects to add to that as he adds more tours to meet demand. In particular, he expects the change to increase the popularity of tours on weekdays, when bars and restaurants are typically not as busy.

New tours will be in two different zones: "Explore Downtown," focusing on the Banks and Fountain Square, and "Explore Over-the-Rhine," operating north of Central Parkway. Heekin hopes that will keep any one area from getting too congested with wagons. Pre-Reds game "Redlegs Rally" and "Progressive Dinners" tours will continue.

If business increases as he expects, Heekin said the company will be able to hire more people and move into a larger space. Pedal Wagon currently operates out of an Over-the-Rhine co-working space with Halfcut, the beer bar that Heekin also co-owns, as well as Gomez Salsa and other businesses.

For more information, or to book a tour, visit http://pedalwagon.com/ .