By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
The proposal for a “party bike” in Bowling Green is picking up speed.
On Tuesday, Bowling Green City Council heard the first reading of an ordinance regulating commercial quadricycles – which is the more formal name for the party bikes.
A public hearing on the ordinance will be held March 21, at 6:15 p.m., in city council chambers. Council member Greg Robinette explained that there are no prohibitions in Ohio for party bike businesses. And council member Bill Herald said any local regulations are proposed “so it fits the community.”
Joe Steinmetz, of Tiffin, who first introduced the idea of a party bike in Bowling Green in January, agreed that the business wants to be a good neighbor.
“We definitely want to be community partners,” Steinmetz said Tuesday evening.
The Tiffin Pedal Company, which has operated in that community for four seasons, calls itself an entertainment service that features a 15-seat party bike. Steinmetz described it as an “oversized golf cart.”
The bikes are used for occasions like bachelor/bachelorette parties, bar crawls, birthdays, anniversaries, and beer/wine tastings. The service also partners with local businesses for specialty rides like town history tours, birthday parties for kids, stops at local eateries, plus ice cream or park crawls.
“It’s a bike for all ages,” Steinmetz said last month, adding that it is used by young ball teams and senior living facilities.
There are 10 pedaling bike seats that supply the power for the bike to move, and two non pedaling bike seats located over the back tire. There is also a back bench that can hold two more people for a total of 14 passengers on the bike at one time.
The bike company supplies the driver.
Passengers aged 21 and older are allowed to have alcohol on the bike legally. The customers bring their own alcoholic drinks, which are limited to beer or wine. Each person is allowed 36 ounces of beer and 18 ounces of wine on the bike at one time. If riders run out, they can restock at stops along the way.
City of Tiffin officials have been supportive, Steinmetz said.
There are no traffic laws prohibiting the 15-seat bikes, and the drivers pull over when traffic is backing up behind the bikes, he said.
“It tops out at 4.5 mph,” Steinmetz said.
Bowling Green Municipal Administrator Lori Tretter sent a letter to City Council members earlier this month about the party bike proposal. It was suggested that the bike end operations at 10 p.m. – the same time that the city’s Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area wraps up.
However, at the request of Steinmetz, the city’s proposed ordinance regulating commercial quadricycles will allow the operation of the party bikes until 11 p.m.
The ordinance includes the following requirements:
- Operators will need to register with the city, listing information such as company and local contact information, plus number of vehicles.
- Those operating commercial quadricycles will have to show proof of liability insurance.
- The bikes will be prohibited from stopping for loading and unloading in marked lanes of traffic.
Also at Tuesday’s meeting, John Whitson, of Findlay, talked with City Council about his zoning change request for 20.7 acres at 525 S. Dunbridge Road, from A-1 agricultural zoning to R-4 multiple family, high density residential zoning.
Whitson said the proposed 288-unit apartment complex, along with the senior health care facility being built next door, could really open up the area for development.
“I’d like to see you guys embrace that side of the highway,” he said. “I just feel Bowling Green has never really embraced that side of the highway.”
Whitson pointed out that Bowling Green needs more housing, and the development would provide starter apartments.
“I think this is a gift to the community,” he said.
The development of the senior facility and the apartment complex would make the property near the intersection of East Wooster Street and South Dunbridge Road very attractive for restaurants and other businesses.
“It will start to pop,” Whitson said. “Once you get this going, commercial development will happen there.”
A public hearing about the zoning request will be held March 7, at 6:15 p.m., in council chambers.
In other business:
- BG Police Lt. Adam Skaff reported that the Leadership BG program has adopted the Wood County Plays inclusive playground planned at Carter Park as the group’s community project. To raise funds, the group is organizing “penny wars” between Bowling Green and Otsego school districts, and possibly between Eastwood and Elmwood districts in March.
- City Council presented plaques to retired long-time council members Sandy Rowland and John Zanfardino for their years of service to the community.
- Adopted a resolution authorizing the city to participate in the financial and economic analysis relating to the Toledo-Columbus corridor study for passenger rail.
