PedalPub franchise pitches downtown Conway tours; council asks staff to study franchise terms and alcohol/consumption zones

Representatives for PedalPub presented a franchise proposal to Conway City Council on July 20, describing 15-passenger, pedal-assisted group bikes intended to offer guided tours that stop at restaurants, pubs and downtown landmarks. Council members asked staff, police and planning to review franchise terms, loading/unloading locations, and how local alcohol-consumption rules would apply.

“My name is Jake Halbert. I am the president of Hellhub,” the presenter said, describing the PedalPub network and noting the business operates in roughly 60 North American cities. He called the tours a way to “foster social connections, provide light exercise and show off the city.” Presenters described a 15-person bike with ten pedal seats, electric assist, headlights, brake systems and a certified pilot program for drivers.

On the subject of alcohol consumption the presenters said the company commonly operates BYOB (bring-your-own-beverage) models and that consumption on the bike is limited by local rules. They told council the company enforces a two-drink limit per passenger and prefers canned beverages with an ABV cap for safety; they noted Columbia, S.C., operates under a local consumption zone model as a precedent. “If anyone is 21, there's no alcohol being consumed on the bike,” one company representative said when outlining safety protocols for tours that include underaged passengers.

Council members asked detailed questions about traffic impacts, loading/unloading locations, how tours would avoid congesting narrow downtown streets, storage and where the bikes would be housed when not operating. Presenters said they would start with a single bike in Conway and that storage would be on private property, not on city property. They also said pilots undergo background checks and a corporate certification program before operating tours.

Council did not vote on the proposal. Members expressed general interest and asked staff to examine whether the business would require a franchise agreement (if it uses city property), what permissions or designated consumption zones would be needed to allow on-bike alcohol, and any code or traffic changes required. The council scheduled a follow-up workshop and asked planning and the police department to report back.

Why it matters

If approved through the appropriate permitting or franchise process, pedal-bike tours could increase foot traffic and visitor spending in downtown Conway, but they raise questions about downtown circulation, public-safety rules and how local alcohol-consumption regulations would be applied.

Next steps

Staff to research Columbia and other municipalities’ practices, confirm whether a franchise agreement or conditional-use permit is required, work with police on safety and routing, and return recommendations to council for follow-up action. The presenters said they would be available for further meetings.

Ending

Council members welcomed the concept but deferred any approval pending staff analysis and workshops on zoning, traffic impacts and liquor-consumption policy.