Riding the Pedal Tavern to Campus

Buying gas to travel to the moon would be expensive. But imagine how expensive it would be at 4 miles per gallon.  The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee housing shuttles have done just that, figuratively.

On Earth Day, UWM hosted Pedal for Change.  The event was an effort to help eliminate carbon emission by swapping a housing shuttle for a Milwaukee Pedal Tavern.

Pedal Taverns are a multi-person bicycle of sorts, equip with pedaling seats surrounding a bar.  The Milwaukee Pedal Tavern Company began in 2010 with one tavern, and has since grown to five with over 40,000 happy riders.

Pedal for Change did not serve alcohol, but did provide a fun option for students to commute from residence halls Cambridge and Riverview to campus, or vice versa. University Housing Residence Life Coordinators Jesse Singleton and Joshua Maxwell organized the event.

The Pedal Taverns veered away from traffic heavy streets like Oakland and Maryland. Instead, students rode on hilly side streets.  Sophomore Josh Greenwald rode the pedal tavern from Cambridge to campus.

“The ride was tough at times, especially going uphill,” said Greenwald.

Maxwell rode the Pedal Tavern a week before the event to find a time approximation for students looking to get to class. He found the ride lasted about 40 minutes, carrying 12 students and one Pedal Tavern driver.

“People would wave, take pictures, and make us feel like celebrities,” said Maxwell.

Riders on the day of the event said the Pedal Tavern drivers were an enjoyable part of the experience.

“The Pedal Tavern employees were really entertaining,” said Junior Katie Porkonjak.

The driver of shuttle had positive things to say.

“The riders and I had a blast listening, singing, dancing and pedaling to Beyonce’s latest album,” said Pedal Tavern Driver Amanda Handlos.

Community members pedaled for change as well.  A local man noticed the Pedal Tavern coming down his street.  He stepped outside to take a photo on his cell phone.  That’s when Pedal Tavern Driver Alex Hutjens shouted, “Hurry up, hop on!”

The Pedal Tavern was such a unique site to passing cars.  They would honk their horns, roll down their windows to wave, and even “race” with the taverns.

University Housing Outreach Coordinator Matt Mountin challenged a bicycling pedestrian to a race.  “Try to catch us,” said Mountin.

Traveling faster is not a concern for Milwaukee Pedal Taverns, but last year it was faced with a state requirement of adding a gas guzzling motor.  Because Wisconsin state law does not allow quadricycles access to public streets, Pedal Taverns were asked to add a motor in order to be considered a “limousine vehicle.”

In an effort to keep the Pedal Taverns green, Milwaukee Pedal Tavern and hundreds of supporters traveled to Madison to obtain equal rights as a limousine, but without a motor.  Pedal Taverns obtained their rights and now continue as a green pedal powered vehicles.

Pedal for Change ran from the early morning to late afternoon.  A couple hundred students participated in the Earth Day experience.

“I was happy to know I was making a small change in UWM’s carbon footprint,” said Greenwald.

“I hope they bring it back in the future,” said Potkonjak.