Menino seeks ban on party bikes

The seven-person bicycles poking through city streets since last summer may soon be banned from Boston.

Mayor Thomas M. Menino, concerned about the effect of so-called party bikes on traffic and public safety, submitted a proposed ordinance this week that would prohibit the circle-shaped bikes.

"I don't want to wait until someone gets hurt," Menino said. " They're dangerous."

The mayor also proposed regulating pedicabs, three-wheel bicycles used to transport people. Pedicab companies would have to secure a license from the Boston Police Department's Hackney Division.

"Regulating the pedicab industry and prohibiting the use of party bikes is critical to protecting not only the customers that use these services, but also to protect pedestrians and vehicular traffic," Menino wrote to the City Council.

Rick O'Connell -- owner of Boston Pedal Party, which operates the German-made Conference Bicycles around Fenway Park and Faneuil Hall -- said he plans to seek a compromise.

"I see this as a positive addition to the city," O'Connell said.

Neither O'Connell nor city officials said they were aware of any injuries or accidents involving the Conference Bicycles, which travel at a top speed of 15 miles per hour and operate on the weekends from 10 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.

The bikes are distributed by Woburn's ScooterBug Inc.