Ottawa may allow pedal pubs to serve alcohol

A typical tour will visit up to three breweries, restaurants or pubs where patrons can sample craft beers or other beverages at each stop.

You may be able to enjoy an alcoholic beverage while riding around the City of Ottawa on a pedal pub this summer.

A report for the public works and infrastructure committee recommends the city allow large quadricycles operating in Ottawa tell sell and serve alcohol on the bicycles, with rules in place for the routes that the quadricycles can travel.

Last summer, the Ontario government changed the Liquor License and Control Act to allow alcohol to be sold and consumed on bicycles if municipalities pass a bylaw to permit it.

Pedal pubs are large bicycles where people bicycle around a city and stop at pubs along the route for an alcoholic beverage. The Thursty Peddler offers a “pedal-powered” crawl to Ottawa’s pubs and patios.

City staff are recommending Ottawa opt into the provincial pilot project and adopt a “Large Quadricycle Bylaw” to “provide clear rules for these operations.”

“Aligning with the default provincial approach, including permitting alcohol sales and consumption, will allow the City to manage large quadricycles in a consistent and coordinated way, while monitoring impacts on safety, traffic operations, transit, and surrounding communities,” staff said.

The following rules will be in place for pedal pubs:

• May only travel on roads with speed limits of 50 km/h or less
• Operations are restricted during weekday peak travel periods (7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.) and during the winter season to “minimize potential impacts” to traffic flow, transit operations.
• No quadricycles on sidewalks, trailers, cycling facilities, transitways, reserved bus lanes, and parkland

Staff say owners and operators of large quadricycles will be required to obtain ”written route approval” for their proposed routes prior to operation.

The maximum speed of the quadricycles will be 17 km/h, and passengers under the age of 18 will be required to wear a helmet.

According to the report, operators of peddle pubs will be required to ensure all alcohol containers are either returned through an “applicable deposit-return program or recycled.”

The Large Quadricycle Bylaw will also include a two-tier licensing system for owners and operators under the Businesses Licensing Bylaw, defined vehicle safety and passenger requirements, and enforcement mechanisms, including fines and business license suspension or renovation provisions. Licensees will be required to maintain commercial general liability insurance in the amount of $2 million.

Staff say large quadricycle tours have been operating in Ottawa since 2018, “with no significant issues identified to date.”

Night Mayor supports the plan

Ottawa’s night mayor is expressing strong support for the city allowing alcohol to be sold on pedal pubs, according to the report.

“The Commissioner noted that similar programs in other cities contribute to cultural vibrancy, tourism, and positive city branding, and identified clear alignment with the Nightlife Economy Action Plan and downtown revitalization efforts,” staff said.

“The Commissioner highlighted opportunities to activate areas such as the ByWard Market, Little Italy, Chinatown, and Wellington Village, while also exploring interest beyond the downtown core.”

• Sign up now for daily CTV News Ottawa newsletters
• The information you need to know, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App