Green Bay Weighs Possibility Of ‘Pedal Pubs’

Mobile bars known as “pedal pubs” are going before a committee of the Green Bay City Council.

A business owner is considering operating one of the bicycle-like taverns but wants the go-ahead from the city first.

“By state law they are allowed. However a city can adopt an ordinance against them or for them,” explained Green Bay Alderman Barbara Dorff, who sits on the committee that will hear the request. “So he opened a discussion then. So we asked staff, in particular the police chief, to bring us back some information and so that we can make a better decision about the recommendation that we’d want to give to the City Council”

Green Bay Police Chief Andrew Smith is against the pedal pubs. Police spokesman, Cpt. Kevin Warych, said the mobile bars would contribute to what he called the city’s culture of drinking.

“We feel that the pedal pubs, though probably safe in nature and enjoyable for many, doesn’t play into the culture that we’re trying to change in the city of Green Bay,” Warych said.

Besides facing opposition from police, city staff are presenting the Protection and Welfare Committee with a proposed ordinance banning their operation. Any decision on the pubs would have to be passed by the full city council.

Currently, pedal pubs operate in Madison and Milwaukee.