This type of bike -- mangled with a gasoline engine -- really defeats at least one key purpose of biking, which is to be earth-friendly. I'm all for the electric hybrid bicycles but gasoline powered types are noisy and stinky and just seem to rub against the je ne sais quoi of bicycles. Thus, this particular cyclist -- if we can call him that; the stinky cyclist -- is missing the point. The point of not polluting and the point of exercise. Perhaps also an aesthetic point. I understand some folks can't handle big hills. Just fine. In this case the electric models are a fine choice. Of course, latter are quite pricey, but not so much more than what's shown above. In this gentlemen's case, he looked fit enough to climb this 3/4 mile stretch of the Camp Hill bypass. Perhaps I'll have an opportunity to discuss the matter with him, if he's willing to stop pedaling (er, turn off his engine) and chat.
7 comments:
Whenever I see those things in the bicycle section of Craigslist, I always click the "Miscategorized" link at the top right. Because it's not a bicycle. Being as I'm also a motorcyclist, whenever I see them in the motorcycle section I do the same, because it's not a motorcycle, either. Bwahahahaha!
On the serious side, the State of Pennsylvania considers that thing a motor driven cycle. Motor driven cycles require a license plate and safety inspection. My guess is that he doesn't have the former and can't pass the latter. Call the police the next time you see him on the road.
Correction. His bike is technically a moped, with operable pedals. It doesn't require a safety inspection, but does require a license plate. http://www.pamsp.com/Images/Fact%20sheet.pdf
I've seen them around PHX too, but most of them seem to be shoddy engines hooked up to dangerous transmission contraptions powering bike-shaped objects, with a total combined working life of a few months. They don't appear to work for very long.
Ahem. Still looks like a pretty efficient form of transport in comparison to a car or truck. Powered, light bikes have been around for over one hundred years now and have a small core of die-hard enthusiasts. They look both quaint and fun to me.
I wondered, as he buzzed by, how he does BURN his legs off on the engine, which protrudes dangerously in them middle of the "device," shall we say.
yup it defeated the purpose of biking, biking should keep you fit and lessen carbon emission.
Motor driven cycles were invented by two guys named Harley and Davidson. Harley bikes did not lose the pedal start until the 1912 model year. You are welcome to argue with them.
If it offends your bicycling sensibility, don't look at it. At 150 MPG and 15 MPH, it isn't a bicycle, its inexpensive motored transport in an era of high gas prices.
Lessen carbon emissions? Again, 150 miles on a gallon of gas. Hybrids can't beat that. Fitness, who cares? I'm trying to get to work. Electrics are cleaner? Not if the power came from a coal fired power-plat it's not.
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