Amsterdam Beer Bikes: Possibly Dangerous, Definitely Dorky

June 13, 2009 at 3:41 PM | by Victor Ozols | 1 Comment

The tolerance of Amsterdam residents is legendary, but the beer bike may have stretched it to the breaking point. For those who don't know, the beer bike is a self-propelled, ten- to twenty-person contraption that pedals around town while all but its driver quaff beers. Popular with stag and hen parties (what we Yanks call bachelor and bachelorette parties), the bikes are a fixture in the city center, with revelers howling and singing as they enjoy the booze-soaked ride. But according to Reuters, two accidents involving the bikes since April have caused the city councilor responsible for transport to reconsider how many beer bikes ought to be allowed in the city at any one time, and what measures can be taken to ensure their safety. Could this spell the end of the beer bike?

Beer bike operators say their rides are safe, since sober drivers are required, but local merchants call the bikes a nuisance, noting that they have already been banned from the red light district. Think about that, how bad do you have to be to get banned from Amsterdam's red light district?

The fact that they operate at all is kind of surprising to me. I can't imagine too many U.S. municipalities allowing such shenanigans on our city streets, at least not without getting some serious tax dollars in return. I have seen a few multi-person bikes in New York City, but they always seemed confined to Midwestern tourists having an "experience" in Times Square. In any case, you probably won't find me on one. Nope, I'll sip my suds in peace on a bar stool and leave the pedal-powered boozing to someone else.

[Photo: BrandFreak]

Related Stories:
· Last Round Called for the Amsterdam Beer Bike? [Reuters]
· Beer Bike Tour in Amsterdam [Official Site]
· Beer Travel Coverage [Jaunted]

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