Sault Ste. Marie launches downtown pedal pub attraction

Sights and sounds from Sault Ste. Marie's inaugural Beercycle Downtown Tour with Mayor Matthew Shoemaker.

A bright yellow quadricycle rolled out from Sault Ste. Marie’s city hall on Friday evening, carrying Mayor Matthew Shoemaker and a group of passengers on the attraction’s maiden voyage through downtown Sault Ste. Marie.

The multi-passenger, open-air vehicle, better known as a pedal pub, was officially unveiled as a new entertainment and visitor attraction at about 5 p.m. on May 29 at the Ronald A. Irwin Civic Centre, with it departing shortly after for a happy-hour tour, marking its official launch.

The new tourism attraction is operated by Miss Marie Sault Lock Tours, which also offers experiences aboard the Miss Marie cruise ship and Big Ben double-decker bus.

Representatives from Sault Lock Tours spoke briefly with the media following the unveiling.

Investment and approval

In May 2026, city council approved a by-law permitting the operation of the pedal pub in the downtown area along designated routes.

Tourism Sault Ste. Marie contributed $50,000 through the city’s tourism development fund to support the initiative.

Sault Lock Tours owner Jeff DiCorpo said the company also invested about $50,000 to purchase and refurbish the vehicle.

The vehicle was purchased used from Montreal and refurbished locally before entering service.

DiCorpo claims the Sault is the first northern Ontario community to offer the pedal pub experience.

Mayor joins inaugural ride

Shoemaker said the venture builds on the success of Northern Superior Brewing’s Tap Room and the success of the Big Ben bus and adds a new offering to the city’s downtown.

“It is great to be on the inaugural ride, and we can enjoy it over a drink,” said Shoemaker, stepping aboard.

How the tours work

According to the Miss Marie Sault Lock Tours’ website, the Beercycle Downtown Tour is a guided two-hour pedal pub tour designed for groups of 6 – 15.

The tours depart from the Roberta Bondar Pavilion, and include two stops at local breweries, two dedicated photo stops and a scenic waterfront and downtown route – typically stopping at Northern Superior Brewing Co. and OutSpoken Brewing for about 45 minutes each, although timing can be adjusted based on the group’s experience at no additional cost.

The website indicates that all drinks are pre-purchased prior to departure, with a curated selection of beer and vodka coolers available to enjoy during the ride.

Vehicle capacity and booking

The vehicle seats up to 15 passengers, including 12 pedal stations and rear bench seating for three to four non-pedalling riders. While guests help power the vehicle, an electric assist motor helps keep tours moving comfortably.

“Pedaling is part of the fun, but not required for the entire tour,” the company said.

The pedal pub will operate Tuesday through Sunday.

According to the website, small groups of six people cost $192, while private groups of six to 15 seats cost $380 and full payment is required to confirm a booking.

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