Amsterdam ‘beer bike’ hits rocky stretch
Multi-person pedaled vehicles under fire after two recent accidents
Reuters updated 10:10 a.m. PT, Fri., June 12, 2009
AMSTERDAM - Although famous for a love of bicycles as the city’s preferred transport, Amsterdam officials are starting to draw the line at a popular “beer bike.”
The bike, which can seat at least 10 people around a central “bar” as they pedal through the city center, is a frequent sight in the Dutch capital and is said to be popular with stag and hen (bachelor and bachelorette) parties. A non-drinker steers the bike.
But two accidents involving the bikes since the start of April has prompted the city councilor responsible for transport, Hans Gerson, to investigate how many bikes there are and whether they pose a problem.
“This beer bike is completely legal, but he (Gerson) is not very enthusiastic about this idea of people drinking while being amongst traffic,” a spokeswoman said.
But she downplayed the possibility of a ban, stressing the alderman is looking into various options.
Ard Karsten, owner of beerbike.co.uk which rents bikes to tourists, said he was open to talks with the council, adding his company only rents a beer bike out with a driver and has never been involved in an accident.
A compromise could involve the council obligating all firms to supply a driver with the bike, he said.
“We’re not out on the street en masse and it’s simply controllable. It is about fun and teambuilding,” Karsten said. “We have a very beautiful route and people simply enjoy it, but some people ruin it for others.”
A spokesman for the Amsterdam city center district, Ton Boon, said the bike was already banned in the red light district and welcomed Gerson’s inquiry. “It causes a lot of nuisance.”
Amsterdam newspaper Het Parool had reported earlier this week an accident last weekend resulted in various injures, while three women were injured two weeks ago.
“It is an uncontrolled projectile,” motorcyclist Karin Wolfs, who was involved in an accident was quoted as saying.
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