A request from the Chillicothe mayor's office asks city council's Public Affairs Committee to review the use of pedal wagons on city streets. Mayor Luke Feeney made the request this week following a local vendor's desire to operate a pedal wagon within the city.
A Pedal Wagon, also known as a Party Bike or Pedal Tavern, is a multi-passenger, pedal-powered, quadricycle that serves as a rolling refreshment stand. The wagons can offer any type of beverage but are most associated with adult alcoholic beverages, usually beer. The vehicle is powered by the passengers, while the steering and braking is controlled by a driver who does not provide pedaling power.
A consultation between the mayor's office and the city law director on the issue found there is currently no legislation that either prohibits or allows pedal wagons to be used on Chillicothe streets.
The Downtown Development Commission has already considered the use of pedal wagons and is in support of legislation to enable their use.
The assignment request included a memo with a list of pedal wagon legislation enacted by other Ohio municipalities to aid the public affairs committee in crafting the requested legislation.
The included legislative examples, courtesy of Mayor's Office Manager Clint Boggs, are provided below.
The Village of Ottawa's pedal wagon ordinances contain potential penalties for violations, operations of the vehicle, and inspection of the pedal wagon. Refer to Chapter 346 of Codified Ordinances of Ottawa, OH at https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/ottawa/latest/ottawa_oh/0-0-0- 39679
Bowling Green city ordinances provide an example of potential rules for the operation of commercial quadricycles at https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/bowlinggreen_oh/latest/bowling_oh/0-0-0- 54561
Columbus laws also provide an example of potential pedal wagon legislation at https://library.municode.com/oh/columbus/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT5BURELICO_CH592PECOQU
Dayton offers limited legislation regarding the use of pedal wagons at https://library.municode.com/oh/dayton/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TITXIBURE_CH115PUTR_DIV4COQU_S115.701QUPE
Given the nature of pedal wagons, Chillicothe's current ordinance on its Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area would also come into play and information on that ordinance is available at https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/chillicothe/latest/chillicothe_oh/0-0-0-14521
Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin offers some well-written examples of ordinances on commercial quadricycles at https://cms9files.revize.com/sturgeonbaywi/Community/Applications%20and%20Fees/Quadricycle-Ordinance-Chapter-37.pdf
Ohio's Revised Code pertaining to Quadricycles also provides some legislative examples at https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-4301.62