The PedalPub has been operating in St Pete, touring the murals and delivering customers to local watering holes for eight years. Due to the pandemic, “we weren’t sure if we would ever reopen. It’s been tough,” said Eric Olson, PedalPub-St Pete’s owner.
“Even though bars and restaurants were already reopening, and maybe with a rather extreme sense of caution, we decided not to reopen until now—and we have evolved our adventures to meet the moment.” PedalPub’s reopening will be restricted to Private Tours only, organized by one renter who knows all the participants, what Olson dubs “Social Bubble Tours.” They will not currently be offering the classic Public Tours, where individuals and small groups were put together to fill a tour.
“People still need to safely get out, exercise, socialize, and enjoy fresh air with friends & family. That’s what we’re all about,” he said. Stops will be limited to one or two during the standard two-hour tour, and those stops will be at large, usually outdoor venues.
During the hiatus, PedalPub has created two additional tours, focused on murals with little to no stops at bars or restaurants. “We created tours that would focus on our city’s award-winning murals and pedal through exciting districts. These tours will require a lot more pedaling but offers groups the ability to stick together and only make stops to take pictures of, and in front of, our wonderful murals,” he said.
The “Mural Alley Tour” will take pedalers east from the starting point near 20th and Central through mural alley between 6th and 7th. The “Alice in Wonderland Tour” will go west, nearly to Punky’s. “These tours are absolutely beautiful. Of course, if renters don’t want to do a standard pub crawl or customize the distance of their tour, the PedalPub will stop wherever the renter chooses. Pedaling these new, fun tours will be a head-turner and a calorie-burner.”
“We hope people gather friends and family, get outside, and enjoy some exercise together!”