Friday, December 22, 2000
Friday, December 22, 2000 |
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The bike of the future today By
MICHAEL BOYLAN Remember how thoughts of the 21st century led to visions of amazing inventions? Now that we're here, the current technology is amazing, but it leaves a little to be desired. Now there is something quite futuristic out there. It is readily available, affordable, and it enhances the old process. It is an E-Bike and Peachtree City, because of its environmentally aware planning and more than 70 miles of vast cart paths, is the first city in Georgia to get a store. The E-Bike was created by Lee Iacocca to help solve transportation and pollution problems. The E-Bikes were launched in California and are now gaining national and international attention. It is basically a bike with a boost. The rider can still pedal, but the electronic aspects of the bike can make it so the rider does not have to pedal as hard and can go up hills easier. Some of the higher end bikes have cruise control and can reach speeds of 18 miles per hour, while the standard level bikes can reach speeds of 12 miles per hour. Barbara Evans is the owner of the E-Bike store in Peachtree City. As a Peachtree City resident and someone who recently had knee surgery, the concept of E-Bikes piqued her interest. She investigated them further, got one herself and opened a store. An E-Bike are powered by a battery that can last up to four hours, depending on the terrain that you ride it on. The battery does not have a memory like a cell phones and does not need to be completely run down before it can be recharged. In fact, the charger is built in to each bike. Each battery is expected to last up to three years and replacements are not expensive. The bike even has a system of beeps and a screen to let the rider know how much energy the battery has left. There are currently three models on the market a 24 volt, a 36 volt and a mini E-Bike. The mini E-Bike can be folded and stored in one's trunk. Within the next 12 months, a slew of other E-Bikes and E-vehicles will be released, including a pedicab, a side by side tandem bike, a scooter and a Neighborhood Electronic Vehicle. Anyone can ride an E-Bike, in fact, unlike other models that tried this idea, it rides just like a regular bike. and the brakes are the same as on regular bikes. They even have the standard gear shift, reflectors and lights. The city will create ordinances for the bikes in the future, but there will be no age factor in who gets to ride and no license required. The E-Bikes will be allowed on the cart paths of Peachtree City and only helmets will be required. "These would be great for college communities, like Athens, or schools where freshmen aren't allowed to have cars," explained Evans. "This gives them a viable mode of transportation, more so than a bike." E-Bikes are also being marketed to police departments, delivery services like UPS for downtown deliveries, and large venues like the Georgia Dome. E-Bikes can be shipped or they can be brought home from the store already assembled. E-Bikes weigh approximately 85 pounds, while the folding E-Bikes weigh close to 55 pounds. The battery itself weighs 22 pounds. If you would like to learn more about E-Bikes, the store is located on 308 D. Bob Industrial Blvd. off of Huddleston Rd., 770-487-4741. You can also visit the Web site, www.goebike.com. |
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