Coeur d'Alene City Council tips glass to downtown trolley
BILL BULEY | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 7 months, 4 weeks AGO
Bill Buley covers the city of Coeur d'Alene for the Coeur d’Alene Press. He has worked here since January 2020, after spending seven years on Kauai as editor-in-chief of The Garden Island newspaper. He enjoys running. | May 7, 2025 1:06 AM
The Coeur d’Alene City Council on Tuesday gave the green light to a human-powered pub to operate in the downtown area.
Proposed by Keenan Johnson, the trolley would operate from May to October, with both two-hour scenic tours for all ages and sightseeing/alcohol establishment tours for those 21 and older.
The council voted 5-0 to approve commercial use of the city streets for recreational transit, with Councilman Dan Gookin absent.
“I love these innovative ideas,” said City Councilor Amy Evans.
A similar proposal, Pedal Pub, was also approved last year, but the applicant never started the business, said Kelley Setters, deputy city clerk.
According to a city report, all tours will begin and end at the Jeremiah Johnson Brewing Company, 826 N. Fourth St.
The scenic route will include Fourth Street, Garden Avenue and East Front Avenue, with a brief stop at the carousel, and a historical drive by Fort Sherman.
Four other daily tours, operating from 1 to 10:30 p.m., will be for those of drinking age. The route will include visits to Jeremiah Johnson, Crafted Taphouse and The Burger Dock, with each stop lasting 20 to 30 minutes.
“Mr. Johnson acknowledged that the operator may not provide alcohol or supply any alcohol to any patron,” the report said. “The patron must bring their own alcohol in a sealed container and may only consume while on board the vehicle.”
The trolley seats up to 16 people and has an electrical assist to help maneuver through traffic and manage inclines.
Setters said the Streets Department had no issues with the proposal, while the Police Department gave an initial OK, but with the condition that adjustments may be required.
According to the city report, “other recreational transportation, such as the Socially Geared Cycle Pub and horse-drawn carriages, operated successfully and had been widely accepted and have not impeded traffic.”
Councilor Kiki Miller said with past similar ventures loud music “ended up being problematic” in quiet neighborhoods and asked how that would be handled.
Johnson said music would be kept at “a respectful volume.”
City attorney Randy Adams said the city reserves the right to modify the agreement to maintain peace and order.
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