All aboard the Pedalbus

Made from a platform on four tyres, the open aluminium structure holds eight bike seats with pedals. Passengers power the vehicle by pushing the pedals while a driver stands at the front to steer and use the brakes. The fun bit is the way the seats are laid out - passengers sit around a bar while wine and beer is poured for them to enjoy as they travel.

The pedalbus is the brainchild of 38-year-old Luke Roberson. "I was inspired by the multi-person bicycle," he says. "But I wanted to make one that was sturdier and better suited to parties and events." Hiring a pedalbus has become a trend among corporate clients as a way of team building.

"We've had bookings from Deutsche Bank and a lot of PR firms," says Roberson. There are currently four in the fleet, with each pedalbus holding a minimum of seven people and maximum of 12. Rather miraculously, the pedalbus is totally legal to travel around London's main roads.

Despite claiming that cycling on a pedalbus only requires pushing against a few kilos, it's harder to pedal than it looks. Getting the bus moving again after a stop takes quite an effort and it will never have you zipping around the city. Once you get going it travels at a fairly glacial pace, moving at about twice walking pace. Although this means it gets a bit tiring, it also means you never feel too unsafe or out of control.

Our team set off driving the pedalbus around a residential, west London square. The quiet flat roads and leafy surroundings made for an enjoyable few circuits. But then we decided to brave some extreme off-roading: High Street Kensington.

Although the pedalbus boasts a 100 per cent safety record, cruising down a busy London road, pinot grigio in hand, you can't help but feel you are holding up other traffic. But the driver always makes you feel in safe hands, clearly instructing passengers and letting cars and buses overtake us when he could.

The atmosphere was undoubtedly convivial. As we blasted out Lady Gaga and chatted over drinks, it was easy to see why this would be the chosen method of transport to get a group of mates from pub to pub.

The reactions from pedestrians and other cars, however, were mixed. On the whole, people were patient and good-humoured about the pedalbus, enjoying the novelty factor and even giving us all a wave. However, there was evidence that it won't be universally embraced.

As a black cab drove around the side of the bus, he began shouting expletives and demanding that we "get out of the way". Not everyone will enjoy the pedalbus in the same joyful spirit in which it is pedalled.

Pedalbus hire starts from £23.50 per person. Visit pedalbus.co.uk for more information.