Remember how

thoughts of the 21st century led to visions of amazing inventions? Now

that we're here, the current technology is amazing, but it leaves a little

to be desired.

Now there is

something quite futuristic out there. It is readily available, affordable,

and it enhances the old process. It is an E-Bike and Peachtree City, because

of its environmentally aware planning and more than 70 miles of vast cart

paths, is the first city in Georgia to get a store.

The E-Bike

was created by Lee Iacocca to help solve transportation and pollution

problems. The E-Bikes were launched in California and are now gaining

national and international attention.

It is basically

a bike with a boost. The rider can still pedal, but the electronic aspects

of the bike can make it so the rider does not have to pedal as hard and

can go up hills easier.

Some of the

higher end bikes have cruise control and can reach speeds of 18 miles

per hour, while the standard level bikes can reach speeds of 12 miles

per hour.

Barbara Evans

is the owner of the E-Bike store in Peachtree City. As a Peachtree City

resident and someone who recently had knee surgery, the concept of E-Bikes

piqued her interest. She investigated them further, got one herself and

opened a store.

An E-Bike are

powered by a battery that can last up to four hours, depending on the

terrain that you ride it on. The battery does not have a memory like a

cell phones and does not need to be completely run down before it can

be recharged. In fact, the charger is built in to each bike. Each battery

is expected to last up to three years and replacements are not expensive.

The bike even has a system of beeps and a screen to let the rider know

how much energy the battery has left.

There are currently

three models on the market a 24 volt, a 36 volt and a mini E-Bike. The

mini E-Bike can be folded and stored in one's trunk. Within the next 12

months, a slew of other E-Bikes and E-vehicles will be released, including

a pedicab, a side by side tandem bike, a scooter and a Neighborhood Electronic

Vehicle.

Anyone can

ride an E-Bike, in fact, unlike other models that tried this idea, it

rides just like a regular bike. and the brakes are the same as on regular

bikes. They even have the standard gear shift, reflectors and lights.

The city will

create ordinances for the bikes in the future, but there will be no age

factor in who gets to ride and no license required. The E-Bikes will be

allowed on the cart paths of Peachtree City and only helmets will be required.

"These

would be great for college communities, like Athens, or schools where

freshmen aren't allowed to have cars," explained Evans. "This

gives them a viable mode of transportation, more so than a bike."

E-Bikes are

also being marketed to police departments, delivery services like UPS

for downtown deliveries, and large venues like the Georgia Dome.

E-Bikes can

be shipped or they can be brought home from the store already assembled.

E-Bikes weigh approximately 85 pounds, while the folding E-Bikes weigh

close to 55 pounds. The battery itself weighs 22 pounds.

If you would

like to learn more about E-Bikes, the store is located on 308 D. Bob Industrial

Blvd. off of Huddleston Rd., 770-487-4741. You can also visit the Web

site, www.goebike.com .

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