Rechargeable vehicles in our cities have revolutionized what it means to be a pedestrian. It makes truly commuting on foot possible for distances over two miles, and allows for speedy short trips without belching exhaust into the air. However, before you put an engine on your skateboard, you should take a longer look at the electric tricycle.
Children have been riding skateboard style scooters both with and without powered mobility for decades. Sometime in the late Nineties the pivoting stand-alone scooter was introduced, but most people had difficulty learning how to ride those effectively. The next wave of genius came when someone put the rechargeable motor from the pivoting model onto the skateboard scooter their kids were riding, and a new hazardous means of transport was born.
Having a straight-back but sitting posture allows us to spend more time riding around, as stiffness in our lower backs and soreness on our feet is a distraction. We saw long ago that those upright stick-handles were just a little too low to hold onto without being stooped forward. This pose actually encourages adults to ride these skateboard style scooters with no hands.
Even if the scooter is designed to fit adults, that upright handle is still too short. Yes, we know the pivot control model requires the short handle in order to pivot in all directions, but that is no excuse. No one is happy after standing hunched over for a harrowing four to six miles of city traffic.
The skateboard style scooters can go around 8 to 12 mph when fully charged, which means their operator is responsible for keeping an eye out for pedestrians traveling on his or her stretch of pavement. The tricycles are able to carry larger batteries and have larger wheels, so some can max out at 18 to 24 mph. The faster the rider, the more serious the injuries which can occur if they are distracted by aches and pains.
One is able to choose the style of seat they prefer. There are even sporty models that position the driver either leaning forward, or laying backward, in order to achieve greater speed through the magic of aerodynamics. Most of us are quite happy with a big, round seat that matches the size of our aging buttocks.
Breaking systems come standard on most tricycles, along with rear-view mirrors that should have been standard on bicycles a century ago. Many scooters, including the motorized variety, were without breaks in the beginning. However, as these vehicles become more and more a part of city travel, breaking systems standard just makes sense.
As any bicycler or motorcycle rider knows, the horn is a key safety feature, and tricycles love to make their horns look and sound as ridiculous as possible. For those of us who still love the night-life, a headlamp and rear lights come standard. Some of us punk-rock gods might ornament our wheels with LED rope with hopes that we can be seen from space.
There is one safety feature that should be standard, but cannot be guaranteed. That feature is the knowledge and prudence of the person operating the vehicle. Tricycles are fashioned after a tripod design, but unless the driver holds on with both hands and keeps both feet on the pedals, this design is incomplete, and potentially unstable.
Children have been riding skateboard style scooters both with and without powered mobility for decades. Sometime in the late Nineties the pivoting stand-alone scooter was introduced, but most people had difficulty learning how to ride those effectively. The next wave of genius came when someone put the rechargeable motor from the pivoting model onto the skateboard scooter their kids were riding, and a new hazardous means of transport was born.
Having a straight-back but sitting posture allows us to spend more time riding around, as stiffness in our lower backs and soreness on our feet is a distraction. We saw long ago that those upright stick-handles were just a little too low to hold onto without being stooped forward. This pose actually encourages adults to ride these skateboard style scooters with no hands.
Even if the scooter is designed to fit adults, that upright handle is still too short. Yes, we know the pivot control model requires the short handle in order to pivot in all directions, but that is no excuse. No one is happy after standing hunched over for a harrowing four to six miles of city traffic.
The skateboard style scooters can go around 8 to 12 mph when fully charged, which means their operator is responsible for keeping an eye out for pedestrians traveling on his or her stretch of pavement. The tricycles are able to carry larger batteries and have larger wheels, so some can max out at 18 to 24 mph. The faster the rider, the more serious the injuries which can occur if they are distracted by aches and pains.
One is able to choose the style of seat they prefer. There are even sporty models that position the driver either leaning forward, or laying backward, in order to achieve greater speed through the magic of aerodynamics. Most of us are quite happy with a big, round seat that matches the size of our aging buttocks.
Breaking systems come standard on most tricycles, along with rear-view mirrors that should have been standard on bicycles a century ago. Many scooters, including the motorized variety, were without breaks in the beginning. However, as these vehicles become more and more a part of city travel, breaking systems standard just makes sense.
As any bicycler or motorcycle rider knows, the horn is a key safety feature, and tricycles love to make their horns look and sound as ridiculous as possible. For those of us who still love the night-life, a headlamp and rear lights come standard. Some of us punk-rock gods might ornament our wheels with LED rope with hopes that we can be seen from space.
There is one safety feature that should be standard, but cannot be guaranteed. That feature is the knowledge and prudence of the person operating the vehicle. Tricycles are fashioned after a tripod design, but unless the driver holds on with both hands and keeps both feet on the pedals, this design is incomplete, and potentially unstable.
About the Author:
Enjoy a ride on a top of the range electric tricycle by browsing the online store. To choose your favorite trike go to http://www.utahtrikes.com/recenttrikes.html.
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