What’s New at Currie Technologies - IZIP & EZIP

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If you’ve ever tried to peddle a bike up one of the many hills in and around Chattanooga, Garnet Caldwell may have the answer.

It’s called an electric bike, and Mr. Caldwell will sell them at his new store, Chattanooga Hybrids. The Frazier Avenue store opens next week with a grand opening set for Labor Day in September.

Mr. Caldwell, 26, first saw the electric bikes, or e-bikes, while teaching in China a few years ago. Battery-powered bikes are an everyday thing there, he said.

“These (bikes) will go farther and faster and they’re a lot cheaper,” said Mr. Caldwell, a graduate of McCallie School.

The bikes — and most designs look like ordinary bikes — have three modes of operation. They can be pedaled like a regular bike, used with up to 50 percent pedal assistance from the motor, or electric only, in which case the bike runs off the battery.

One line of bikes the store carries, iZip made by Currie Technologies, provides assistance via a throttle in the handle. Another, Liberty, can go completely electric with no pedaling required.

The bikes sell for between $900 and $2,000 each, and feature all sizes, including trikes. They run off of batteries that are recharged by being plugged into a wall outlet for six and 10 hours. Once it is charged, a bike will go at least 20 miles before needing another charge.

Mr. Caldwell declined to disclose how much he invested to get the store open. His father, Ted Caldwell, is the primary investor in the business.

He expects the bikes to be popular with commuters and baby boomers who want to get back on their bikes to ride for leisure. Because of the motor’s ability to help propel a rider along, the bikes allow a cyclist to pedal longer than under his own power. Cyclists still can get exercise on one of these bikes, Mr. Caldwell said.

He said he is not trying to compete with the other bike stores in town.

“These bikes are for people who just want to get out and ride,” he said. “For commuters, it could replace a car.”

When they are in electric-only mode, the bikes will not go faster than 20 miles an hour, a requirement to keep them from being classified as a motor vehicle. The bikes can go faster, but it depends on how fast the rider peddles, Mr. Caldwell said.

Zachary Reynolds was hired last week as a bike mechanic after answering an ad. When he found out what the job entailed, he was excited.

“I think this is an endeavor that is ahead of the curve,” he said. “I’m happy to be a part of it.”

Mr. Caldwell has two other bike mechanics working for him. He hopes to eventually offer the bikes as rentals and could one day work with students at UTC to develop an electric bike that is made locally, he said.

By : Amy Williams

Tags: Electric Bikes, hybrid bikes, Hybrid electric bikes

I’m in a bikey kind of mood today, probably because the delivery man just dropped off the electric assist bike that I blogged about a couple of weeks ago. The Izip Trekking Enlightened comes with a battery powered motor that adds a little oomph to your peddle power. The batteries and motor are hidden away in the bike and offer a really smooth boost to your legs. I literally just unpacked it from the box and took a short ride around the neighborhood. I’m going to get some lunch and write another story or two and then take it on a longer shakedown cruise.

Electric assist bikes are great for anyone living with hills (Portland, Maine is basically one giant hill set on a peninsula) and anyone needing to carry around a lot of weight. Since I moved from the country and sold my car to pursue the greener city life, I’ve had to find new ways of getting old things done- like grocery shopping and taking the kids to the park. Portland is a supremely walkable city with a good public transportation system, but there are times when taking the bus isn’t optimal and a good bike makes things easier. I did a big grocery shopping last week at a store less than a mile away from my house and had to sit through an hour long meandering bus ride to get within a block of my house (and even then, that was a LONG block to walk with 100+ lbs. of groceries).

It’s funny- I mostly abandoned riding my bike once I hit 16 and got my license. Now that I’m back without a car and depending on my two legs to get around, I’ve swung back into being really excited about the power of the pedal. More people need to get out of their cars and onto two wheels. It’s greener, healthier, and you end up seeing more the world at the slower pace of travel.

There’s a lot that we could be doing to encourage more people to get around on bicycles. It should be no surprise that European countries are far and ahead of us in helping their citizens commute and travel by bike. One of my new dreams is to see a bike lift or three installed around Portland. Have you seen them? It’s like a ski lift (a rope tow is probably a better analogy) for bikes. Here’s a video of one in action in Norway.

Tags: EZIP Trailz, izip bikes, izip Trailz

New Electric bikes

Customers who walk into some California Best Buy stores for a cellphone might walk out with an electric vehicle. At least that’s the thinking behind a test being conducted by the nation’s largest consumer electronics retailer.

In May, the Richfield, Minn., company quietly began selling electric bicycles, scooters and Segways at 21 of its West Coast stores, 12 of them in California.

This month it will broaden its electric vehicle offerings with the first electric motorcycle to be sold in a brick-and-mortar store — the Enertia by Brammo Inc., an Ashland, Ore., company in which Best Buy Co. Inc. has invested $10 million.

While the U.S. economy is uncertain and electric vehicle technology is in its infancy, Best Buy is hoping to get in on the ground floor of an emerging market category that not only builds on the company’s technology orientation but also subverts the traditional dealer-distribution model for motorized transportation.

In addition to selling electric vehicles, Best Buy’s technology service group, the Geek Squad, has been trained to service them.

“Our business is already connecting in people’s homes and lives with technology, appliances and computers,” Best Buy spokeswoman Kelly Groehler said. “One of the things that’s important for the future growth of [our company] is staying ahead of where technology is in people’s lives.

“There’s a transition that’s taking place in personal transportation. With people looking to be more fuel-efficient, they want to save money and get around more easily for less cost. What we’re seeing now is a groundswell with the general consumer examining electric transportation for their lives.”

Eight models of electric vehicles are available through Best Buy’s participating stores and its website. The vehicles include scooters from Currie Technologies, bicycles from Currie and Ultra Motor Ltd., a Baja Motorsports moped and the Segway i2.

When the Enertia motorcycle joins the lineup this month, it will fill out a model range that varies widely in price ($299 to $11,995), speed (12 to 55 mph) and distance per charge (eight to 45 miles).

“The biggest thing we get out of the deal is much better exposure,” said Larry Pizzi, chief executive of Currie Technologies, the California electric bicycle manufacturer that makes five of the electric vehicles Best Buy offers.

Currie bicycles are also sold through independent bicycle dealers, where the company “fights an uphill battle” to be embraced by traditional bicyclists, and at other big-box retailers such as Wal-Mart, Toys R Us and Target, where “we’re jammed into a slot where you’d normally find a conventional bicycle and are usually the most expensive one on the floor,” Pizzi said. “Best Buy is great exposure for our brand but also great exposure for the category. We’ve got a ways to go before electric vehicles are recognized as a mainstream product.”

The floor at the West L.A. Best Buy backs up Pizzi’s point.

“It’s a new department, so it’s kind of slow,” said Jackie Martinez, the sales associate in charge of electric vehicles there. The store sells the Baja Motorsports moped and Currie Ezip and Izip scooters and bicycles in an area that sits between refrigerators and ovens on one side and Xbox and PlayStation 3 gaming systems on the other.

Test rides are available in the parking lot, just outside the store’s car-stereo installation bay.

“Most customers see the bikes for the first time when they walk in the store. People aren’t sure how to take it, but they’re definitely really excited. They ask a lot of questions,” said Martinez, who has sold eight EVs in the month her store has been offering them.

Best Buy stores in Long Beach, West Hollywood, Westwood and El Segundo also carry electric vehicles as part of the company’s test. The Burbank store will start this month.

Model selections vary by location, as does the level of support. Some stores have a computer consultation desk for consumers to comparison-shop electric vehicles with pedal-powered or internal combustion products.

Each location and its EV sales associates have had to acquire dealer licenses to sell motor vehicles that require state registration, such as the Brammo Enertia.

“Best Buy is looking for a natural extension of what it already does,” said Michael Pachter, research analyst at Wedbush Morgan Securities in Los Angeles. “The company has always been a consumer electronics store. These vehicles are arguably consumer electronics. They’re selling to the same consumer,” who are, for the most part, males ages 24 to 49, Pachter added.

The consumer electronics chain saw sales increases in laptops and cellphones in the first quarter of 2009 compared with the same period last year, but those gains have been offset by declining sales for digital cameras, appliances, video games and movies.

As categories such as CDs and flat-screen TVs become less profitable and more competitive, “Best Buy will have the space, so why not devote it to cool and innovative products? It’s part of the natural evolution of their business to constantly refresh their product mix to keep their customers engaged and satisfied,” Pachter said.

Will Best Buy be selling electric cars once more manufacturers make them available to the public at affordable prices? “We’re looking at every option right now,” spokeswoman Groehler said. “It comes down to consumer likelihood to adopt EVs in their lives and our ability to meet that demand. Starting with e-powered bikes gives us a healthy read on that.”

Groehler wouldn’t comment on the success so far of the EV test or predict how long it would last. “It depends on the reaction,” she said. “It could go a few months or a couple years.”

By Susan Carpenter

In the U.S. electric bicycles, scooters and motorcycles have been the in the realm of fanatic aficionado’s for a long time. They’ve been available either by building your own or purchase through one of the few dealers. However they won’t make much effect on greening transportation until they’re widely available and are being used widely. In some areas, notably Europe and China, electric bicycles and scooters are popular and widely available (Time, June 14, 2009, “Last year, Chinese bought 21 million e-bikes, compared with 9.4 million autos. While China now has about 25 million cars on the road, it has four times as many e-bikes.”). Indeed most of the commercial electric bicycles and scooters available in the U.S. are made in China.

The electronics retailer Best Buy recently announced plans to begin selling electric bicycles, scooters and motorcycles through selected stores. A few of their stores today are selling electric bicycles and scooters, and sales of the Enertia motorcycle (made by Brammo) will wait until at least the July 5 launch of that bike.

It’s not clear how to determine which Best Buy locations have these vehicles. A conveniently large banner at their San Carlos CA store was a clue that store had them in stock. Unfortunately a visit to this store, on a Sunday afternoon, was a little disappointing.

The bikes and scooters were easily found within the store, and had a sizable chunk of floor space for display. The selection is very good with highly regarded bicycles and scooters. They have been selling Segway scooters in some stores for nearly a year, and this store had two models. The A2B bicycle from Ultra Motors is a very ruggedly built bicycle with a great reputation. Currie has been on the market selling electric bicycles and scooters for over 10 years, and are held in high regard. Good choices all which indicates Best Buy took some care in choosing good quality products rather than simply importing a selection of cheap bikes from China.

Author: David Herron

Tags: Best Buy electric bikes, currie bikes, e-bikes, ezip bikes, izip bikes

Most of us are quite fond of our automobile with good reason and their advantages over bicycles are obvious. Still if you fit a couple of simple criteria, an electric bicycle might be just what you need to make ends more readily meet in these challenging economic times.

If you work downtown, pay to park and live within 10 miles of your office you are an excellent candidate for an electric bike. Saving the $200 to $300 a month you spend on parking and gas for the commute will pay for a bike over the summer.

There are a handful of providers in the metro area including Bird RV in Aurora, the Electric Bike Shop in Castle Rock, Green Machines in Edgewater plus a couple more in Boulder and Longmont.

We recently spoke with Bruce Campbell, owner of Green Machines at 5217 W. 25th Ave. When Campbell talks about hybrids he means bicycles that combine human power with electric motors. The result is a power-assisted bicycle that feels like it’s always going downhill.

“You have two different modes of propulsion,” Campbell explained. “On some models you can go on power alone, without having to pedal, or you have the choice of pedaling and using less power. Other models you have to pedal but as soon as you start a sensor notices the motion and assists you.”

The one we took for a brief test spin had eight gears and five power levels. It was easy to ride and made climbing a slight incline as easy as coasting. The bicycles use a battery pack that locks into place to power an electric motor. The bicycles will go from 15 to 20 miles on a single charge and the batteries can be recharged in 3 to 6 hours, making it a practical way of commuting to work for those who live within 5 or 10 miles of their job. One would also make quick trips to the convenience store or post office both fun and economical.

“It’ll go 13 to 15 mph under it’s own power, which is a fairly typical bicycle speed,” he said. “Right now I am only selling new bikes that are all electric. I do have some used bikes for resale.” Campbell accepts bike donations as well and fixes them up, donating any proceeds to charity. “It’s more of a charitable contribution to the recycling effort – just to try and stay green.”

The new bikes come in a range of models and power levels starting with the IZIP, which retails for $499 plus shipping and taxes. “The mid-range is roughly $799 to $875 and the high end is from about $1,799 up to $3,000 for the real top of the line. It’s a monster – a really great bike.”

The difference is in the size of the motor. The average electric bike has a 450-watt motor – the biggest ones have a 750-watt motor. “It’s also got a larger battery so it’ll take you farther on a charge. I tip the scales at almost 280 pounds and that bike took me uphill at speeds like I was on level ground – close to 20 miles an hour uphill.”

For people with medical conditions that limit their abilities, the hybrids can allow them to rejoin a fun family activity despite their limitations. Hybrid bicycles are an idea whose time just may have come.

Keep the car for longer trips and mountain drives, but commuting is simply a means to an end and money you save there can be spent on those outings or getaways that always seem just out of reach.

Author: Don Bain

Tags: Electric Bikes, ezip bikes, izip bikes

Of all the things that have changed in China over the past 30 years, transportation has undergone one of the most obvious of transformations. Where city streets once swarmed with bicycles, they are now full of automobiles. Cars clog intersection and expressways. Their exhaust clouds the sky and the air is full of the sound of horns. But zipping through the congestion is the vanguard of another transportation revolution: vehicles that use no gas, emit no exhaust and are so quiet they can surprise the unwary pedestrian.

In China, electric bicycles are leaving cars in the dust. Last year, Chinese bought 21 million e-bikes, compared with 9.4 million autos. While China now has about 25 million cars on the road, it has four times as many e-bikes. Thanks to government encouragement and a population well versed in riding two wheels to work, the country has become the world’s leading market for the cheap, green vehicles, helping to offset some of the harmful effects of the country’s automobile boom. Indeed, as engineers around the world scramble to create eco-friendly, plug-in electric cars, China is already ahead of the game. Says Frank Jamerson, a former GM engineer turned electric-vehicle analyst: “What’s happening in China is sort of a clue to what the future will be.”

Right now the future buzzes along at a sedate pace. Government regulations limit the top speed of e-bikes to about 12 mph. But manufacturers are building bigger and bigger machines with speed regulators that are easily removed. E-bikes that are basically pedal-powered machines with an electric boost are common in cities like Beijing and Shanghai, but e-scooters with heavier motors and top speeds of around 30 mph, fast enough to rival mopeds, are growing in popularity.

The e-bike boom owes much to Chinese policy. The government made developing e-bikes an official technology goal in 1991. Major Chinese cities have extensive bicycle lanes, which means riders can avoid the worst of rush-hour congestion. In cities such as Shanghai, local governments have drastically raised licensing fees on gas-powered scooters in recent years, effectively driving hoards of consumers to e-bike manufacturers.

The relative simplicity of the machines and their components has encouraged a huge number of e-bike companies to open in China. In 2006 there were 2,700 licensed manufacturers, and countless additional smaller shops. Rising to the top of the heap is not easy. Leading manufacturer Xinri (the name means “new day”) was founded in 1999 by Zhang Chongshun, an auto parts factory executive who recognized the potential of the field. In its first year Xinri built less than 1,000 bikes; last year it churned out 1.6 million.
Xinri’s Zhang puts in thousands of miles on the road a year, visiting as many as six cities a day to investigate local market conditions. But ultimately what makes Xinri successful is that electric bikes have hit a sweet spot in the Chinese economy. As Chinese grow richer, they want more convenient means of transportation. But not everyone can afford a car. “Motorcycles are too dangerous, cars are too expensive, public transportation is too crowded and pedal bikes leave you too tired,” says Hu Guang, Xinri’s deputy general manager. “So people buy e-bikes.”

The company’s ads show Jackie Chan riding an e-bike alongside a model in a glamorous European capital. Reality is much more mundane. E-bikes are commonly used by migrant laborers who schlep across town from their quarters in the suburbs to work sites across town, with their drills and saws strapped to their bike racks. Police stations are often fronted by a row of blue and white patrol e-bikes. Delivery workers from McDonald’s and KFC haul plastic cases stuffed with Big Macs and fried chicken to office parks. “At first, I picked an e-bike because I couldn’t stand the sickening smell of gas from my scooter,” says Zhang Dengming, 50, a construction supervisor in Shanghai. “But after a while, I realized that e-bikes are actually much safer than motorcycles, and better for the environment. Although e-bikes are generally slower than gas scooters, I find them fast enough for my daily commutes. Their price, which is typically just over 2,000 renminbi ($290) is also more acceptable, so I don’t feel as bad when they get stolen.”

Last year Chinese bought about 90% of the 23 million e-bikes sold worldwide. Experts say that next regions to likely embrace e-bikes are Southeast Asia, where gas-powered scooters are popular, and India, where rising incomes mean personal transportation is starting to be in reach of hundreds of millions. Japan has seen steady annual sales of about 300,000 for several years, and in the cycle-crazy Netherlands e-bikes are beginning to take off. In the U.S., where bikes are still overwhelmingly used for recreation rather than transportation, e-bike sales are expected to break 200,000 this year, or about 1% of China’s sales.

E-bikes weren’t always so popular on the mainland. Early models were even slower than today’s; range was limited and batteries died in less than a year. Now they can travel as far as 100 km on a full charge, more than enough for a day’s riding. But batteries remain the weak point. Most e-bikes rely on lead-acid batteries, cheap century-old technology unsuitable for the growing demands of daily commuting. “The battery is the key limiting factor,” says Jonathan Weinert, a transportation expert who wrote his doctoral dissertation on electric bikes in China.
While lead-acid batteries are improving, Weinart says that electric bikes will create a larger market for lithium-ion batteries — a newer, lighter technology whose development is key for the future of electric vehicles. Already Giant, the world’s largest manufacturer of pedal bicycles but a small player in the Chinese e-bike market, has made headway in northern Europe selling high-end e-bikes that use lith-ion batteries. “To the extent that the electric bike industry can help get battery costs down, test the technology and get it in the market, that may lead” the development of electric vehicles with more than two wheels, Weinert says.

Chinese market leaders like Xinri and Yadea have partnered with top schools like Tsinghua and Peking universities to improve battery technology. And like a slew of other Chinese companies, some e-bike makers are already working on electric cars. Yadea plans to create electric cars for special uses such as shuttling sightseers at tourist destinations. At the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Xinri provided e-bikes and an electric car for use by police at the Bird’s Nest stadium.
Electric cars will require more powerful recharging stations than the standard wall outlets used to juice up bikes. But when four-wheeled technology becomes road-ready, it will find a willing customer base in China. “The Chinese have a hundred million people on electric bikes,” says Jamerson. “That means a hundred million potential customers” for electric cars. When he worked at GM, which filed for bankruptcy on June 1, Jamerson said he once suggested the company give away an electric bike with every new car, just to get customers used to the idea of a means of transportation you plug in every night. His bosses thought he was joking. When the electric revolution final comes, China’s e-bike makers could have the last laugh.

—with reporting by Jessie Jiang/Beijing and Natalie Tso/Taipei

Tags: e-bike

Recent reports say the cost of a barrel of oil has risen to over $60 US and signs of a global economy rebound, particularly in Asia, have many commodity experts predicting the price will continue to rise.

In other words, prepare for another round of skyrocketing gasoline prices.

Recent events have seen our economic base gradually switch from traditional manufacturing to “green” technologies and the entire social landscape altered by such legislation as the provincial Green Energy Act.

In other words, environmental consciousness is not a passing fad. It’s our new way of life. So, you may want to consider putting the Hummer in the garage and buying an electric bike.

Electric bicycles have become a rapidly-increasing industry since Ontario passed legislation to make them legal in April. The growing popularity not only stems from ecology and gas price concerns, there is also the appeal that comes from the fact the bikes don’t require driver’s licenses or insurance.

“More families are going down to one car,” points out Mike Daley, proprietor of ERides Canada on Townline Rd and a dealer of Volt Canada electric bikes. “Fifty per cent of trips are around three kilometres each. People are looking for alternative transportation and they are turning to electric bikes.”

Ray Hunt, who runs the Scoot-A-Long electric bike dealerships, is one of this industry’s veterans with seven years under his belt. He says the sales of his bikes-which have a price range of around $1,000 to as high as $3,500-have increased 40 per cent this year, alone.

Scoot-A-Long’s territory stretches from Orangeville west to Kitchener-Waterloo and north to the Owen Sound area. He has also franchised the operation to locations in Windsor and Wasaga Beach.

There are electric bikes that retail for less, yet there is the old axiom that you get what you pay for. Cheaper models, Mr. Hunt maintains, do not have the performance, durability and after-sales servicing that his product lines do.

While prices can go as high as $10,000, Mr. Daley figures that a reliable e-bike suitable for the Orangeville market would run in the $2,000 range.

An example is the Boca, a $2,000 (taxes included) electric bike built in North America by Ecolo-Cycle.

It has a 48-volt system, which includes a 500-watt motor, which takes from two to eight hours to charge the lead acid battery. The charge lasts from 60 to 100 kilometres, depending on how much you open the throttle, but a turbobooster feature allows for longer charges if one pedals the bike intermittently.

The evolving technology around the bikes is seeing the gradual introduction of lithium batteries. While more expensive than lead acid batteries, they make the bikes lighter and lessen the charging time by up to two hours.

(What should also be taken into account is that charging the bike’s batteries will likely be done at night during off-peak hours. Thus, in this age of smart meters, the cost might even be less than Mr. Hunt’s estimate of 32 cents a charge).

As well, Mr. Hunt explains, the more costly lithium batteries have a longer life; up to seven years, he figures.

The Ecolo-Cycle Vista SE, (retailing at $3,500), has a three-speed automatic transmission, a lithium battery that is good for up to 120 kilometres, and a cruise control option that recharges the battery while it’s in operation.

It also features rugged ABS plastic construction. Mr. Hunt says that a Vista SE was accidentally dropped from a second storey balcony and came away just a few scratches.

Among the converts to electric biking is Cindy Ness, an Orangeville realtor who has made the commitment to lead as environmentally-conscious lifestyle as possible

.This includes the purchase of a Volt Canada electric bike from E-Rides, (which came with a free regulation motorcycle helmet).

“I plan on parking my car and using the electric bike to show homes in Orangeville and to get back and forth to the office as well as for my personal use like going to the grocery store,” says Ms. Ness.

“Electric bikes only go between 30-40 km/hr but are far better for the environment, not to mention the wear and tear of starting our cars, driving a couple of blocks, stopping, showing the house and starting all over again.”

It also enhances her ability to spread the message as someone who is serious about energy efficiency; not only in transportation, but in home ownership, as well.

“If there are two identical homes for sale on the market and one is rated as an energy efficient home and the other is not which one are you going to buy? Today not many homes are energy rated but I believe home sales for the future will eventually have to show an energy rating designation.”

Andy and Sheila Kirk, a retired Orton couple, say the advent of electric bikes has opened up an avenue of recreation that otherwise would not be open to them.

Health circumstances prevent Andy, a lifelong cycling enthusiast, from cycling alone. With an electric bike, Sheila can join him and keep up. “What it does is allow me to go out cycling with him and allows him to go out,” she explains.

Tags: buy e bikes, ebike, Electric bike

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“Think Success”, “Be Inspired”, “ Be Courageous” are just a few of the positive messages imprinted on these super comfy t-shirts and tanks. Ride your Hybrid Bike and send a great message out to world at the same time!

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David Cameron, the leader of the Conservative Party, is a poster boy for bike-riding. Almost. Firstly, where’s the helmet. And secondly, he keeps having his bikes stolen.

The second one was nicked last week, from the front of his house. So what should he, and all cyclists, be doing to avoid theft? After the fold: some helpful hints.

l. Get a Good Lock

Invest 10-20% of the cost of your bike on the lock. The hardened steel D-locks are highly recommended. Use two locks: a D-lock and a chain and the robber needs 2 different kinds of tools to get them off.

2. Lock it Properly

Put the lock through the frame and lock it to something immovable. Leave as little slack in the chain as possible.
Don’t leave the padlock lying on the ground where it can be whacked open.

3. Consider the Value of your Bike

That means, the more valuable it is, the more the thieves will want it.
Don’t park in the same spot every day.
Don’t let it stand out as the most expensive one around.

4. Disguise the Brand

A hard one to stomach, but put tape over the name or spray paint the frame an ugly color.
Even if the thieves see the brand name, the re-sale value has been lowered.

5. Consider a Folding Bike

Folding bikes are expensive but you can take them with you.

6. Buy a Cheap Bike

They don’t have so much street-cred but equally, no one wants to steal them. The Guardian

Tags: bike theft, bike tips, Electric bike, steal bike

MTA events will encourage commuters to get out of their cars next week.

If you’re looking for a way to reduce traffic congestion on the roads, shrink your carbon footprint and get some exercise, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority has a suggestion: Take part in Bike to Work Day next week.

Los Angeles County’s flagship public transit agency, supportive businesses and other partners are organizing several events and promotional offers on May 14 to get residents to try something different than single-occupancy vehicle commuting. Although it’s admittedly difficult to change ingrained behaviors such as driving to work, the MTA is hoping that people who give it a try for one day might decide to do it on a regular basis. If enough people make an effort, the L.A. region would reap numerous benefits, such as less congestion, cleaner air and a more healthy population.

If you decide to pledge to bike to work at the MTA’s Web site, www.metro.net/biketowork, you’ll have a chance to win several prizes, including a two-night stay for two at the Red Mountain Resort & Spa in St. George, Utah; a hybrid electric bike

from Currie Technologies; and wireless bike-attachable speakers for iPODs and Bluetooth connections.

Here’s another incentive to commute on two wheels: If you want to use public transit to supplement your commute, you can ride MTA buses and trains for free that Thursday when you board with a bike or helmet. (During rush hours when ridership is high, however, you may have to wait for the next train to board at certain locations.)

There are a few restrictions: Subway trains that run along the Metro Red and Purple lines do not allow bikes to board in either direction during peak hours between Union Station and the Wilshire/Vermont station.

Other local transit agencies will also offer free rides to bike commuters. In the South Bay, Beach Cities Transit, Torrance Transit and Gardena Municipal Bus Lines will take part in Bike to Work Day by allowing bicyclists to ride at no charge. The Gardena buses do not have bike racks, so riders there would have to park their bikes before boarding.

If you’re still not convinced, consider that you can enjoy refreshments and giveaways from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. at 40 pit stops for bicyclists around the county. In the South Bay, such pit stops will be set up at the Aviation Boulevard Green Line Station, under the sponsorship of Los Angeles World Airports, and at Torrance City Hall. The Aerospace Corp. and Raytheon will sponsor a third pit stop along the Green Line in El Segundo .

There are other good reasons to bike to work: You arrive at the job alert and awake, you save money on gas and there’s no hunt for a parking space. As the L.A. area expands its bike routes and bike lanes, it makes sense to see if biking fits into your lifestyle one or more times a week.

Tags: electric bicycles, Electric bike, hybrid bikes