My blog buddy Recycle Bill, asked me to do a post on motorized bikes. While I think motorized bikes are a much better alternative to cars, I personally have a dislike of motorized bikes and Segways. My dislike is not about the vehicle, more about some of the people who drive them. For some reason people drive scooters and mopeds in the streets but the minute they get on a motorized bike or Segway, they think sidewalks and boardwalks are OK to drive on and it’s OK to let a 6 year old loose in public areas with a motorized vehicles. Living on the beach with a boardwalk, people rent this vehicles and ride on the boardwalk with absolutely no concern for pedestrians.
That said, motorized bikes about been around since the 1890′s, and not only are cheaper to run and maintain than cars. The added benefit 1.) Use less gas, reducing our addiction to oil 2.) Reduce energy needs 3.) Reduce pollution 4.) Reduce traffic and the need for parking lots 5.) Can improve employee productivity and morale if not stuck on freeways 6.) Save taxpayer taxes, no more city bonds to build, no more taxes to fix roads…
ezmotorbike.com
A grass root effort for motorized bikes is http://www.ezmotorbike.com , a North
Carolina based company with dealers all over the USA. Recycle Bill was so impressed
with EZM that he just bought 4 kits and became Greensboro, North Carolina’s EZM dealer http://www.ezgreensboro.com
Motorized bicycles are legal in all 50 states though some states do require registration. They’re not much for long trips but around town they’re even better than mopeds and scooters. While most scooters weigh 300+ pounds, the Motored Bike weighing in at 100 pounds would be
much heavier than usual. Apartment dwellers can carry a motored bicycle up stairs– try that with a moped.
Also, here’s a partial list of EZ Motorbike Dealers
- http://www.ezgreensboro
- http://cyclonetics.com/
- http://www.simpsonmotorbikes.com/
- http://ezmfountainhills.blogspot.com/
- http://ezmlebanon.blogspot.com/
- http://ezmotorbikesales.com/
- More dealers can be found here: http://www.ezmotorbike.com/wholedealerpage.html
This is what I think- it’s better for the environment and your pocketbook, just drive safely and consider the rules of the road.
Thanks! And to all who ride motorized bicycles: MBs are not toys for your children, ride them responsibly and obey the law.
And remember: Passing cars and trucks on the right is the easiest way to commit suicide on a motorized bicycle, regular bicycle or motorcycle.
Motorbicycling.com is a great forum for inforamation and products.
Cathy, thank you for the mention
ride your bike like you are invisible…