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Mo-peds multiply
Classes on the way as laws are enforced

As mo-peds proliferate, so do concerns about their safety.

After two serious accidents this summer, Fort Wayne Police earlier this month announced they would start enforcing laws requiring “motorized bicycle” riders to be at least 15 years old and to wear helmets if they're younger than 18.

Now an organized effort to teach people how to safely ride mo-peds and scooters may be coming. Jay Jackson, executive director of the nonprofit advocacy group ABATE (American Bikers Aimed Toward Education) of Indiana, says the group hopes to offer scooter classes in 2009.

Locally, one of the many merchants who sells mo-peds wants to help get the message out to riders, too.

Joe Runyon sells inexpensive Chinese mo-peds - with 49cc engines, which he says he sets up to go no faster than 25 mph - and small scooters, with 150cc engines.

He's sponsoring a mo-ped run, loosely styled after motorcyclists' gatherings, Sept. 27.

Besides providing food, drink and prizes, he wants to get two messages across to mo-ped riders: “Obey the law and watch out for other people,” Runyon said.

Runyon says young people should get training for riding scooters, but he's not a certified instructor.

He said he'll have to settle for distributing copies of the Bureau of Motor Vehicle's “Motorcycle Operator's Manual” during the mo-ped run.

That's where ABATE could come in next year. ABATE has a longstanding relationship with state government: The state collects a fee for rider education from motorcyclists and contracts with ABATE to teach intensive classes at locations throughout the state.

Jackson said the group is still working with the state Department of Education to review scooter-rider education programs.

But if rider training for scooters follows the same pattern as ABATE motorcyclist instruction, it will draw heavily on national programs developed by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation.

The foundation's scooter curriculum is a half-day program that touches on a number of safety points including the importance of wearing protective gear, licensing and insurance requirements, controls, maintenance, pre-ride inspections, anticipating problems, and defensive driving.

On courses in large parking lots, scooter students learn techniques to improve their braking, cornering, U-turns and riding on poor road surfaces.

Despite the prevalence of “mo-ped” and “scooter” in language, Jackson points out that state law recognizes only “motorized bicycles” and “motorcycles.”

For 40 years, motorized bicycles - with 50cc or smaller engines, going no faster than 25 mph and operated by someone with a driver's license or a state identification card - have been largely ignored by authorities, but Jackson said that is likely to change.

More motorized bicycles and more deaths and serious injuries in crashes mean the state is likely to take another look at how these little vehicles are regulated.

“It is likely there will be an effort this session to introduce legislation that will require registration (that is, buying a license plate) of these vehicles, which will at least provide some accountability,” Jackson said.

Mo-peds multiply | The News-Sentinel - Fort Wayne IN

Solar-assisted bicycle to give riders extra pedal power

Submitted by Mohit Joshi on Fri, 09/26/2008 - 09:27. Science News London

London, September 26: Scientists have invented a solar-assisted bicycle that gives riders extra pedal power.

According to a report in the Times, the bicycle, called a Cycle Sol, has been invented by Miroslav Miljevic, 40, as an eco-friendly form of transport.

The bright yellow device operates like a normal pedal cycle but has a canopy lined with solar cells overhead.

When the user pedals in the sunshine the rays charge a battery that powers an electric motor in the back wheel, propelling the bike at speeds of up to 15mph. It also lowers the resistance in pedalling to make it easier to go up hills.

Miljevic, a London-based designer, said that the motor can be fully charged while the bike is chained up outside on a sunny day. When the sun is not shining, the bike can be charged by mains electricity.

The Cycle Sol is in the concept stage, but Miljevic hopes to be able to mass-produce it once he has found a manufacturer.

According to Miljevic, “It is just like an electric bike but the motor runs on a battery powered by solar energy. You can leave it outside the office during the day to top up the rechargeable, ready for the ride home.”

“These days solar cells are pretty good at picking up the lowest amount of light so it should still work when the skies are cloudy,” he added.

“The handlebars are positioned on either side of the seat so you can lean back for a comfortable ride,” said Miljevic. “And if the worst happens and it rains, the roof will keep you dry,” he added. (ANI)

Solar-assisted bicycle to give riders extra pedal power | Top News

Schwinn’s New Tailwind eBike - 25 To 30 Miles On A 30 Minute Charge

By Andrew Liszewski

Yesterday Schwinn unveiled their Tailwind eBike which uses Toshiba’s Super Charge ion Battery technology allowing it to be recharged using a standard residential outlet in just 30 minutes. Now I haven’t really been following the progress of electric bicycles, but Schwinn claims the 30 minute recharge time is about 1/8 the time needed for their competitor’s models, which if true is quite impressive. I also like the fact that if you didn’t know the Tailwind was a so-called eBike, you probably wouldn’t be able to tell if someone rode past you on one. (As long as they were pedaling that is.)

The electric motor is actually housed in the small hub on the front wheel, and the Plug N’ Drive battery pack is located on the rear bike rack making it easy to detach. So instead of having to run an extension cord to where your bike is, you can simply take the battery to the wall outlet. Depending on weather conditions, the wind and your course, the Tailwind is expected to get about 25 to 30 miles on a single charge, but a Shimano Nexus 8-speed internal geared hub allows you to switch over to pedal power should the battery die before you get home. In fact the only downside is the steep $3,199.99 price tag.

OhGizmo! » Archive » Schwinn’s New Tailwind eBike - 25 To 30 Miles On A 30 Minute Charge

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Goodness gracious! Is it made out of gold?
Nice set up though.

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The only normal people are the ones you don't know very well.

And then someone steals your battery pack...........

Me likes and me dreams.........light powerful batteries make me warm inside.

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Very cool Fair, both. I believe with the advances being made with batterys, It will be a very competitive alternative soon. With the tailwind, I am wondering if solar panels could be added? They have little ones that go for around $100.

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Normalcy ain't what it used to be.

Rolling "Dutchmen" Bike Through Ozarks

By KSPR News

Story Created: Oct 1, 2008

Story Updated: Oct 2, 2008

Today a group of Dutchmen, riding motorized french bicycles, rolled into Springfield to riase money for Indonesia.
20 Holland riders left Chicago last weekend (9-27)for an adventure across the USA. They are crossing more than 2,600 miles, across the Historic Route 66 from Chicago to Santa Monica, California on VeloSolex French motorized bicycles.
They're raising money for a dedicated school in an impoverished area of Indonesia.
For almost four weeks, with several hours a day of pedaling with motor assistance at speeds rarely beyond 20 mph and keeping gas consumption to a minimum of nearly 200 mpg, the members of the Dutch VeloSolex club of TJOP TJOPPERS are expected to ride through rain, sleet, flood and desert to show that every individual can participate in helping other human beings and make the world a better place.
In fact one roider told KSPR News as soon as they stopped in Springfield, they had encountered four seasons of weather in the four days of riding between Chicago and Springfield, Missouri.
Follow their trip's progress by copying this address and clicking into their website Solexclub 'De TjopTjoppers'

Thier is a video to check out...

Rolling "Dutchmen" Bike Through Ozarks | KSPR News | Local News

I just reach into my backpack pour a quart of premix in the tank and it's time for 30-40 more miles of fun!

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wow !! 3,000 bucks? Wow !!! You would think for 3000 bucks you could go 5000 miles on a charge !! Wow.. Now.. 300 bucks. That might be worth it. Maybe. The problem with Ebike is that the batteries weigh a ton, and the distance is limited. Power is lower too. You can buy a Titan for around 400 bucks, and good bike for 200 and for 600 bucks or less you can fly. That is a savings of 2,400 bucks !! And.. Range? Well.. For 2,400 bucks and a gallon of gas costing say... 5 bucks a gallon.. That means.. you can buy 480 gallons of fuel on your savings. At 130mpg city, you can go 62,400 miles. Approximately. Now that is Wow !!!

I have been selling Ebike wheels to convert bikes. Cost around 300-400 bucks and incluudes battery lead acid. Big heavy, takes 8 hours to charge. Distance is around 15-20 miles on a charge. And.. For some, this is perfect. They need to go to the store or the neighbors or take care of mom or dad that live 5 or 10 miles away. These are perfect for this !! Just perfect !! So.. E bikes do fit the needs for some riders. Speed is 15-19 mph and plenty fast for those riders. So.. E bikes do have ideal applications. I am glad to use and sell them as well as gas kits. I just think that 3000 bucks put that bike out of the reach of most . At that price, that is a rich mans toy. But.. With time and technology, I am sure the price will come down, and the range will go up. We shall see. Enjoy the ride...

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A race to Vegas on one gallon of fuel

By Leslie Brinkley

BERKELEY, CA (KGO) -- And on the subject of alternative sources of power, there is the great Escape From Berkeley. It's a road race this weekend from the Bay Area to Vegas. Here's the catch; each competitor gets only one gallon of fuel.

Take a weed whacker engine, marry it to a bicycle built for two, and slip on a cover. That's Mike Gittelsohn's concept for how to get to Las Vegas on a gallon of ethanol. Thursday night the 54-year-old software writer put the finishing touches on his concept car that will take some personal pedaling power.

Other vehicles competing in the Escape From Berkeley road race include ones that burn wood scraps, innovations in bio-diesel, and another powered by a steam engine. The race rules say you can only take one gallon of fuel along.

You can take one gallon but you can beg for more along the way. So the wood, gas, fire guys chop down trees and go to lumber yards and pick up wood. The biodiesel guys are going to go out to restaurants and get oil," said Gittelsohn. "In California we'll go to hardware stores and beg for a quart of denatured alcohol. And when we get to Nevada, we'll go to bars and beg for Everclear 190 vodka."

This vehicle will be called the "Two Cat Screamer." Gittelsohn's 16-year-old daughter will personalize a design on it and then they'll hoist a 32-pound fairing over the bicycle.

The road rally starts off in Berkeley Saturday morning. By nightfall, teams will camp in Groveland near Yosemite. On Sunday they go over Tioga Pass and end up in Lone Pine. On Monday, it's the treacherous trek across Death Valley to Las Vegas.

That's more than 600 miles, but the prize is $5,000. However, the point isn't so much the cash as it is to make people think.

"I figure that more than 50 percent of my car usage could be replaced by a motorized bicycle," said Gittelsohn.
Ten innovators will have a chance to try out their theories on the open road.

Video in link.....The race is on to Las Vegas using alternative fuel vehicles - 10/10/08 - San Francisco News - abc7news.com