1978 Redux

I bought a bike shop in 2004 (or was it 2003?). It was a long established shop on the west side of Indianapolis. To some of you, this isn’t news. What you may not know is that in the 1970s this store sold mopeds-a lot of them. Largest Garelli dealer in the country. So I was told. 

My opinions on electronic bicycles has run the gamut.   My initial dismissal changed once I recognized the value of the device.  A device that would help people continue to participate in an activity they enjoyed.

The problem is that technology doesn’t sleep.  The bike industry, and government buerocrats?  Sleeping is seemingly what they do best.  Don’t look down the road.  Don’t anticipate.  Just leave the stall doors open, and then act shocked when you find the horse is already two counties away.

What started as assistance for people wanting to stay on their bicycles, or make that long commute just a little easier has spawned into something else. “Bicycles” that travel at unbelievable speeds. Some don’t even resemble bicycles.

That’s where we are now. The pretense is gone. The pedals are merely for show, and to skirt some (I’m assuming) vague regulation.

People should be able to ride what they want.  I’m not in favor of outlawing anything, but If it’s got a throttle it isn’t a bicycle.  It’s a moped, and needs to be treated as such.

It’s 1978 all over again.