David, I live at Longhouse Cooperative, right next to you, and had a similar experience. I wanted to bike for years, but couldn't face the hills as a daily commute. Then I got a bike with a motor and spent the next two years bike-commuting. Mine is a small, 4 cycle, gas engine. Not as green as electric, but I calculate I get about 100 miles per gallon and was only using the motor for about a quarter of the biking time. The gas motor has a bit more power than any electric I've seen, which helps with the section of Elm St. right above where you probably turn. It wasn't a real choice though, just what I happened to come across. I too have spread the word and know of at least one person who bought an electric bike as a result.
However, you should know that these bikes are illegal on NY roads. Anything with a motor must be licensed and insured. But these bikes cannot be licensed or insured. Catch 22. The odds of you actually being ticketed are pretty slim, but because of where I work, I can no longer bike-commute. And even though the chances of someone stopping you are pretty low, the penalties for unlicensed, uninsured operation of a motor vehicle are pretty severe. Sooner or later someone will get slammed. We should be pushing for a change in the law that recognizes the reality of power boosted bicycles. Some states and other countries define a category of motor assisted bicycles, with a limit on either power or speed, and define them as bicycles, not motor vehicles. It's time for NY to do the same. Tim >>Date: Mon, 23 Jun 2008 08:28:11 -0400 (EDT) >>From: "David Peter McCobb" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>n >>To: [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], >> [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], >> [email protected] >>User-Agent: SquirrelMail/1.4.9a >>Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Electric Bikes >>Reply-To: Sustainable Tompkins County listserv >><[email protected]> >>List-Id: Sustainable Tompkins County listserv >> <sustainabletompkins.lists.mutualaid.org> >>List-Unsubscribe: >><http://lists.mutualaid.org/mailman/listinfo/sustainabletompkins>, >><mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >>List-Archive: <http://lists.mutualaid.org/pipermail/sustainabletompkins> >>List-Post: <mailto:[email protected]> >>List-Help: >><mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >>List-Subscribe: >><http://lists.mutualaid.org/mailman/listinfo/sustainabletompkins>, >><mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >>Sender: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >> >>Fellow Bikers, I bike-commuted to Cornell from NE area for 8 years prior >>to moving to Ecovillage, but was stymied for 5 years by the hills between >>West Hill and CU...until I put an electric motor on my bike. I have been >>doing it by electric bike for over a year now, and loving it. I am working >>hard to spread the word; these things make biking in downtown Ithaca seem >>like the easiest, least-fuss and most satisfying way to travel possible. >>They require gentle exercise at a level that is nothing-but-fun, and >>invite more physical input. At stoplights, I love sliding up the edge to >>the front of the pack, and being able to accelerate out of the way when >>the light turns green; I think it makes intersections safer, as well as >>less annoying for bikes. The best part for me, of course, is the range >>extension; on a single charge I can get to CU, loop up to the mall area if >>needed (rarely!!), and swoop and climb back home. Every time I head down >>from W. Hill (Elm St. extension is pretty quiet) I get a smile on my face >>about how fun it is to be so free. And my fitness has improved, without >>the brutality of Ithaca Hills. >> >>I am working hard to spread the word, as I think this compromise transport >>is ideal for this town. I claim to have gotten 12 electric bikes on the >>road so far, through my coaching, brokering, and selling activities. >>People of every possible sort have had their curiosity piqued by this, to >>the point that they have either begged or been cajoled into test riding. I >>have quite a variety of models in my garage, and have an open invitation >>for all to try them all. The cost of adding this to an existing bike is >>around $500 (fewer than 10 fill-ups at the pump at current gas prices), >>and battery recharge costs less than ten cents, I reckon (~0.5 KWatt >>hours). >> >>I call them EZbikes, for a good reason (technically short for electric >>zippy bikes). I also call my yellow one the "cheatah"; Perhaps Ithaca is >>ready for this cheaters-version of biking. I think if they were to catch >>on, this town could absorb several thousand, and set an example. At least >>I am having a blast trying to make the case! >> >>David McCobb >>[EMAIL PROTECTED] >> >> >> >> > Tony Del Plato wrote: >> > >> > I've been a commuter cyclist for over 50 years, both here and in NYC, >> > and frankly, as much as bike lanes would be nice, we simply need to >> > take to the road and be present and very visible. >> > >> > ************** >> > Tony, >> > >> > I agree wholeheartedly. It is a rare day when I see another bicycle >> > commuter on my daily commute between West Hill and downtown and back, >> > even now when the fair weather bikers have taken to commuting by bike. >> > >> > Yesterday morning however I did pass some 60 cars in the 3-4 minutes >> > it took for me to get from my house down to the corner of Buffalo and >> > Taughannock. (By the way 7 out of 8 of those cars, Priuses included, >> > contained a single occupant.) Generally on my commutes I share the >> > road with myself and about 400 cars and trucks. In other words I >> > represent about one-quarter of one percent of the morning commuter >> > traffic traveling to work via Cliff Street. >> > >> > If I don't see any evidence of substantive, sustained reliance on >> > bicycle as a means of transportation on my daily commutes then I'm >> > sure Common Council, Board of Public Works and planning and >> > development Board members certainly can't see it from behind their >> > steering wheels. >> > >> > One thing that has not changed in my 25 years in the public planning >> > realm is that politicians may speak otherwise, but when it comes down >> > to a vote they do not respond to logic or the interest of the >> > environment and the public health and welfare. They respond to >> > constituencies and the money behind them. That is as true here in >> > Enlighten City USA as anywhere else. >> > >> > Frankly, there is no real constituency for serious bicycle >> > transportation infrastructure here in Ithaca. We are a fringe >> > element and treated as such. That's why hundreds of thousands of >> > dollars are being sunk into recreational trail blackholes such as the >> > Cayuga Waterfront Trail and the Bridge to Nowhere linking two >> > segments of a future Trail to Nowhere at the south end of town, at >> > the expense of real improvements to bicycle transportation >> > infrastructure. >> > >> > That's why a decade after the Town of Ithaca adopted a plan for a >> > 28-mile network of bicycle and pedestrian paths a mere .75 mile >> > segment has been built and some three miles of potential future >> > bike/ped paths won't happen because the Town Board and Planning have >> > ignored the plan and let developers pave over the mapped routes. >> > >> > That's why in 2005 the Town of Dryden Town Board cut out about ten >> > miles of proposed bicycle and pedestrian paths from their new >> > comprehensive plan. Because nobody spoke up for the bicycle >> > pedestrian transportation component, but once enough people got >> > organized to mount an opposition, it got cut. >> > >> > The fact is that here in Ithaca, as is the case through the US, the >> > bicycle is viewed as nothing more than a recreational toy, simply >> > because that is how 99 percent of bike owners use their bikes. No >> > amount of Bike to Work days or Cyclovias to the Farmers Market are >> > going to change that perception.. >> > >> > The only thing that would are hundreds of bicycle commuters on the >> > streets of Ithaca, on a daily basis, rain, shine or snow. It can >> > happen, and has happened in places like Toronto, Seattle and >> > Vancouver, but those are three very compact cities where distances >> > between home and work are short enough to make biking competitive >> > with the automobile >> > >> > That environment does not exist in Ithaca. Given the deeply >> > ingrained sprawl mentality here, as exhibited in the negative >> > responses to my arguments for a more compact Ithaca, it doesn't have >> > much chance of happening here, either. >> > >> > But I'm still not giving up hope. >> > >> > Stupidly tenacious. >> > >> > George Frantz >> > [EMAIL PROTECTED] >> > >> > >> > George, >> > >> > Believe it or not, lots of folks are afraid to ride their bicycles in >> > traffic. No matter how much you might think they are sissies, they are >> > real people with real fears of being clobbered by two tons of metal. At >> > the cyclovia I attended a couple of weeks ago, many of the attendees >> > expressed a fear of traffic and appreciation for the handholding and >> > support that the cyclovia event provided. I agree that we all need to be >> > riding our bikes on the roads with cars and I do this every day. But the >> > best way to get more folks doing it is to help them, encourage them, and >> > hold their hands if need be, not to berate them or discount them. >> > >> > Gail Blake >> > [EMAIL PROTECTED] >> > >> > I agree with George. We need to focus exclusively on creating bike routes >> > through the flats for people who live/work downtown. I don't care how >> > people >> > choose to get into town - that's their problem. Commuting up/down the >> > hills >> > is just not going to happen - ever. I bicycle commute every day from Fall >> > Creek to the west end. I'm pretty brave on a bike and I can totally see >> > why >> > the average person would never bike downtown in the current situation. My >> > observations are: >> > >> > 1. The roads are narrow with lots of on-street parking (doors swinging >> > into your path are extremely dangerous). >> > 2. Like George, I rarely see another commuter - perhaps a couple times >> > a >> > week. I do see other cyclists but these are typically kids on >> > sidewalks or >> > darting out across traffic. Although I frequently use the sidewalks >> > myself >> > near fulton as it is much easier and allows me to get to work faster >> > than if >> > I drove (as I pass by all those single occupant cars waiting at the >> > lights). >> > 3. I rarely see pedestrians either. I'd be curious to know how many >> > millions of dollars are spent on sidewalks that are rarely used - at >> > least >> > roads are heavily used. >> > 4. I find it very easy to navigate north/south on any street downtown >> > at >> > any time of day. I own those roads! >> > 5. East/West is another story. Each street has pluses and minuses. >> > 1. State street is really narrow and parking on both sides is >> > normally >> > pretty heavy. Traffic is very slow with frequent traffic lights and >> > I can >> > easily stay in the middle of the lane and keep up (no need for a >> > bike lane). >> > State street businesses absolutely need those on-street parking >> > spaces to >> > survive (Gimme, Mama Goose, Bishops, etc.). Let's not be too >> > dramatic and >> > think state street could ever have a bike lane - that's just plain >> > stupid >> > and as George pointed out 0.25% has little sway so don't even >> > bother >> > fighting that one. It's bad enough that the commons is closed to >> > traffic, >> > stretching that out further makes no sense. >> > 2. Green street is actually a great route despite the faster >> > traffic. >> > There are no stops until Cauyga and the street is pretty wide. >> > There is >> > on-street parking but it is never very heavy because most >> > properties are >> > commercial along this street with their own off street parking. >> > Residential >> > also have their own off street parking. Personally, I think this >> > is the best >> > candidate for a dedicated bike lane heading east. Removing >> > on-street parking >> > along the north side would have few if any complaints (Time Warner, >> > Fire >> > Station, Ithaca Journal, DP Dough, etc.). These people have their >> > own >> > parking lots and should not care too much if a couple dozen >> > on-street spaces >> > are removed. >> > 3. Seneca on the other hand has a lot of properties that probably >> > depend on the on-street parking. I don't think you could remove >> > parking >> > continuously from either side of this street without a lot of >> > controversy. >> > 4. Buffalo and Court always seem to be crazy at commuting times - I >> > avoid these as much as possible. Way too many stop signs and >> > every stop sign >> > or traffic light is a potential bike-vehicle conflict. I much >> > prefer a >> > straight shot. >> > 5. Cascadilla is the best all around route. There is one stop sign >> > at >> > Geneva and it's wide open with lots of visibility. Very little >> > traffic on >> > this street and I can zip across town very quickly. I will go >> > out of my way >> > on either end of town just to take this route. Would love to see >> > a sharrow >> > on this street (not a dedicated bike lane). Once I get to Fulton >> > I take the >> > west sidewalk. I feel bad about being a cyclist on the sidewalk >> > but until we >> > have more cyclists and more signage I feel a lot safer and it's a >> > lot >> > quicker. >> > 6. Another thing to consider is bike routes should not have traffic >> > lights. The stupidest feeling I have ever experienced on a bike is >> > when I'm >> > stopped at a red light with nobody in sight and a cat sleeping in the >> > road. This is bad enough when you're in a car but I'm not a threat to >> > anyone >> > in this situation, I'm not in any danger of being hit by anyone yet >> > the law >> > says I have to stand there for 30 seconds or more feeling like an >> > idiot. And >> > then a kid comes up on his bmx and liesurely rides kitty-corner >> > through the >> > intersection. In general we need to get rid of a lot of traffic >> > lights. >> > >> > Noah >> > >> > h 607.273.3029 >> > c 607.262.0305 >> > >> > 405 E. Marshall Street >> > Ithaca, NY 14850 >> > >> > www.deviron.com >> > >> > >> > -- >> > Elan Shapiro >> > Sustainable Tompkins Community Partnership Coordinator >> > Sustainable Living Associates, Principal >> > Frog's Way B&B >> > 211 Rachel Carson Way >> > Ithaca, NY 14850 >> > 607-275-0249 607-592-8402 Cell >> > >> > "We must be the change we want to see in the world" >> > Mohandas Gandhi >> > >> >>Delete & Prev | Delete & Next >>Move to: >> >> >> >>_______________________________________________ >>For more information about sustainability in the Tompkins County >>area, please visit: http://www.sustainabletompkins.org/ >> >>RSS, archives, subscription & listserv information for: >>[email protected] >>http://lists.mutualaid.org/mailman/listinfo/sustainabletompkins >>free hosting by http://www.mutualaid.org > >===<<<>>>=== >Leni Hochman >Chief Operations Officer >[EMAIL PROTECTED] >607-216-3418 > >Alternatives Federal Credit Union >125 N. Fulton Street, Ithaca, NY 14850-3301 >607-273-4611 fax 607-277-6391 >www.alternatives.org > > > > >No virus found in this incoming message. >Checked by AVG. >Version: 8.0.100 / Virus Database: 270.4.1/1513 - Release Date: >6/22/2008 7:52 AM Tim Joseph 772 Elm St. Ext. Ithaca, NY 14850 607-277-2519 [EMAIL PROTECTED] _______________________________________________ For more information about sustainability in the Tompkins County area, please visit: http://www.sustainabletompkins.org/ RSS, archives, subscription & listserv information for: [email protected] http://lists.mutualaid.org/mailman/listinfo/sustainabletompkins free hosting by http://www.mutualaid.org
