Alternative Transport
Locally available options to increase your cool and decrease your gas mileage
By Kris Howell |
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Billy Rentel on the Can Am Spyder (Photo by Chris Casella) Driving hasn't been fun since drunk driving was first illegalized in New York in 1910. And you don't have to look far before you realize that mass consumption of oil is killing innocent baby birds in the gulf coast, or that it's at least a significant component of one or two conflicts in the Middle East. So why do Americans spend as much on cars as they do on food and healthcare combined every year when there are less expensive alternatives that are more fun?
Bicycles, scooters and motorcycles have long been viable options on two wheels, but why not stand out from the crowd even more?
Check out some of my favorite locally available replacements:
Spyder
At first glance, the Can Am Spyder seems like a crotch rocket designed for Batman. Part sports car, part motorcycle? Is this like a really badass El Camino for superheroes? A snowmobile that you can drive on the highway in the summer? Hard core super-charged roller blades that are less embarrassing to use? It's pointless to draw comparisons, because in the end the Spyder stands alone as the answer to ATVs that aren't roadworthy, and motorcycles that will fall down and kill you.
With an average of 45 mpg, the Spyder nearly doubles the gas mileage of the average car. With attributes like heated handles and an onboard computer that adjusts for tight turns and icy roads, it stands as an efficient alternative even in snow or rain. Finally Ohioans can have motorcycle-like fun in the winter.
They're still gaining momentum, but according to Ed Rich from Grove City's ASK Powersports, one of the very few retailers that carry Spyders in Central Ohio, it's not uncommon for diehard Harley riders to trade in their iron steed for a brand new Spyder.
"The interest for Spyders spreads across all demographics and cultures, from young kids to the elderly; people who've ridden motorcycles, to people who've always considered motorcycles to be too dangerous," he stated. It's cheaper to drive than a sports car, and it's safer than a motorcycle.
Electric Bicycles
When bicycles first developed into something like what we use today, being referred to as a "rider of bicycles" wasn't much different from being referred to as an attention-hungry snob. Electric bikes have suffered from a similar fate. Why not just get a bike? Why not just get a scooter?
Jared Cavalier, the owner of Revolution Cycles on High Street in the Short North, sees electric bikes as an inexpensive answer to common commuting problems. "You can ride 17-20 miles using just the electric motor, and if you use the 'pedal assist' you can get 25 miles on one charge. It's great for people that want to commute to work on a bike, but don't want to worry about getting sweaty."
Some models have completely detachable electric motors, so you have the option to ride it around like a regular bicycle. And if you want to seal the deal for the ultimate in commuter transportation, you can get a folding electric bike and stroll in to the office a la George Jetson.
Electric Longboards
Though electric longboards don't strike me as the safest thing on wheels, they are extremely fun and inexpensive to use. If coffee isn't helping you get motivated to get to work in the morning, the idea of hopping on an electric longboard should be all the drug you need.
The most reliable type has a remote-control-car-style hand trigger with a wire that plugs into the back of the board. It can go 0-20 mph in 5 seconds, and runs 20-25 miles on one 3-hour charge.
Kurt Monnier, a local electric board enthusiast, thinks it's the best way to travel. "I like to ride it up to the carryout to get a six pack after work. I take it downtown and ride it around the streets and parking lots. I can take it down to the bike path and get anywhere without a problem. I take it with me when I travel, it's a great way to see a city in a new way. It's like surfing on pavement, but the pavement isn't as forgiving."
Monnier is working on getting a solar generator to take his longboard completely of the grid.
If you're interested in long trips, you could make it to Cincinnati in 20 hours without much trouble, including recharge time. It's not the quickest way, but quite possibly the most fun you can have without breaking a sweat. And if you don't mind breaking a sweat, you can get the option with big knobby all-terrain tires for short cuts through the park.
Columbus' J.M. Seligman, author of The Last Fill Up, says if you ride green you can save $2,000 per year in gasoline costs. The book, he says, explores sustainable alternatives to our gas guzzling ways.
"By using electric bikes, electric mopeds, electric scooters, electric cars, public transportation, carpooling, and clean technologies, we can become carbon free and carefree," he said.
For more about Seligman and his book, visit www.electricmopednation.com.
Originally Published: July 1, 2010
