Beercycle

Photo by RMO

In one of my infrequent trips to the Auckland CBD, I chanced upon this odd-looking vehicle, traversing the streets around the viaduct.  It's called a beercycle, pedal powered by people while having a drink of beer.  Kiwis really know how to party.

This fun way of drinking beer and biking at the same time is now available in Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch.  This 15-person party bike comes with a hefty price of $450 for two hours and if you're a bigger crowd, it's $800 for two bikes.  It makes 3-5 stops along the way, for the drinkers/bikers to get a drink in the pubs, bars and restaurants on the route. And true to the adage of no drinking and driving, the drinking is only allowed during the brief stops.  But of course the revelry, boisterousness and fun keep on going all through the trip: from the bike to the pub to the bike.  And folks along the streets seem to be amused by this contraption on the street.  Plus the obligatory selfie and photo opp comes into play by the same people.

This beercycle has similar features and design as the party bike invented in 1997 by Het Fietscafe BV, Netherlands.  It is a multi-passenger human-powered vehicle with the passenger’s pedalling while the steering and braking is controlled by the driver.  Aside from the Netherlands, they are also popular in the United States, Germany and other European countries.

On its website it proudly says New Zealand's Only Party Bike Pub Crawl.  I guess this is one more creative and ingenious way of enjoying what the City of Sails has to offer to.  I also saw another thing though, a huge bus filled with revelers.  And it's called a party bus.  But that's another story.