The bikes are marketed as a unique way to drink beer with friends while exploring the city or celebrating birthday bashes, bachelorette parties and the like.
But a “pedal pub” tour through Midtown Atlanta ended in calamity Saturday afternoon when the user-powered bar toppled over at a major intersection, injuring all 15 people aboard.
Credit: WSBTV Videos
The pubmobile’s 28-year-old “pilot” was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol after the crash and booked into the city jail. Atlanta police said Monday that the company’s owner was also cited for not having the proper sightseeing permit.
According to the Pedal Pub Atlanta website, the passenger bikes are built by hand in the Netherlands. The “Gather & Go!” tours through Midtown typically last about two hours and include two to three stops at breweries, bars or restaurants. Hailed as a “truly unique bar hopping experience,” large groups can book private tours. Individuals can also reserve spots at the bar starting at $40, according to the site, but not before signing a waiver.
A police spokesman said Monday that he is unaware of any previous Atlanta crashes involving the trolley-shaped bars on wheels, which come equipped with an electric motor to help patrons get up steep hills.
Surveillance footage of the wreck showed the vehicle topple onto its side after rounding a corner, pinning several riders. Bystanders quickly teamed up to upright it, freeing those who had been caught underneath.
“I got about 15 passengers, several bleeding,” one officer can be heard saying. “I got one, possibly serious, bleeding from the head.”
Those who gathered to assist the injured riders were visibly distraught as they waited for paramedics to arrive.
Similar wrecks have been reported in other major cities as “pedal pubs” have become more popular in recent years. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has reached out to the city’s transportation department to find out what, if any, regulations are in place.
The exact cause of Saturday’s crash remains under investigation, but authorities believe the bar likely toppled over while turning too quickly. Patrons’ shoes were strewn across the intersection of 14th and West Peachtree streets just after 6:30 p.m., along with the red plastic cups they were drinking from.
Fire officials said two people suffered critical injuries, three sustained serious injuries and 10 received minor injuries. None of those injuries are considered life-threatening, however.
“There were 15 people on the bike when it tried to turn and tipped over,” Atlanta police said over the weekend.
All 15 were taken to hospitals across the city. Firefighters deployed a large ambulance bus typically reserved for mass-casualty events to take 10 of the riders to area hospitals. The remaining five were taken in regular ambulances, said Alyssa Richardson, communications manager for Atlanta Fire and Rescue.
An update on their conditions wasn’t immediately available Monday.
Todd Treml, president of Pedal Pub Development, LLC, said in a statement that the company was “shocked” to learn of the crash.
“The safety of our customers is our top priority, so we were shocked and saddened to learn of the situation involving one of the independently owned and operated franchises in Atlanta,” Treml said. “Pedal Pub Development is thankful to the bystanders and first responders who rushed into action. We will continue to follow the updates involving the Atlanta franchise, keeping all those who are impacted in our thoughts and prayers.”
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