A pedal tavern (also called a party bike or bar bike) is a multi-passenger pedal-powered vehicle that seats up to 15 people on bench seats arranged around a central bar. Riders pedal cooperatively, an electric motor provides assist and keeps the vehicle from stalling on hills, and a driver/guide handles navigation and the sound system. The whole thing moves at roughly 10 miles per hour through downtown Nashville.
How a Ride Actually Goes
Nashville Pedal Tavern starts at its headquarters at 1504 Demonbreun St (Midtown). Riders check in, stow their coolers, and load the bike. The guide briefs the group on the route, drink rules, and bar stops. The ride runs 90 minutes and ends in or near Lower Broadway, not back at the starting location, so groups need to plan onward transportation.
Along the way, the guide plays music, facilitates group games, and narrates Nashville landmarks. The route typically covers Music Row and/or downtown areas. Most tours include 1-2 stops at partner bars where riders get exclusive drink specials with their wristband.
BYOB Rules (These Are Non-Negotiable)
Due to Tennessee regulations, pedal taverns operate BYOB. The rules are specific: beer and standard seltzers are allowed. No liquor. No wine or champagne. No hard seltzers made with distilled spirits (High Noons, Mom Water). No beverages over 8.0% ABV. No glass bottles. No kegs.
The company provides coolers, ice, and cups. Groups buy their own beverages and load them before the ride.
Pricing
Public tours (joining strangers): $49.99 per person, or $52.99 on Friday and Saturday nights after 8pm. Public tours allow small groups to join other small groups. You’ll share the bike with people you didn’t come with.
Private tours (exclusive use): Start at $520 for up to 15 people, or $540 for Friday and Saturday after 8pm. The minimum is 6 people for a private booking. A private tour lets your group have the bike without other parties.
Groups larger than 15 can book multiple bikes simultaneously, an automatic 20% gratuity applies to multi-bike reservations.
All riders must be 21+.
Competing Operators
Nashville Pedal Tavern is the original and largest operator but has significant competition. Music City Crawler, Sprocket Rocket, Nashville Bar Bike (which advertises as the most affordable option), and others all operate similar vehicles at similar prices. The core experience doesn’t vary dramatically by operator, the guide’s personality makes the biggest difference.
Who It’s For
The target demographic is obvious: bachelorette parties. But the actual customer base is broader, birthday parties, corporate groups, family reunions, and any group of friends who want a shared activity before hitting Broadway. The “pedal tavern crowd” has become its own Nashville subculture, visible from every street corner downtown on weekend afternoons as matching outfits and 15-person bar bikes roll past.
It is unapologetically a tourist activity. Locals do not typically ride pedal taverns. It’s loud, visible, group-oriented, and takes 90 minutes. For visitors who want to combine seeing downtown Nashville from a slow-moving vehicle with controlled group drinking, it delivers exactly that.
The Honest Take
Book weeks or months in advance for weekend slots, private tours on Friday and Saturday fill quickly. Show up with cold drinks already packed because purchasing at check-in is a scramble. Tip your guide well; the experience quality is directly proportional to their energy.
Sources:
- Nashville Pedal Tavern: https://www.nashvillepedaltavern.com/
- Nashville Pedal Tavern private tours: https://www.nashvillepedaltavern.com/private-tours/
- Tripadvisor reviews