ELF pedal electric car on W&OD

[kcb203]

What do you think of the ELF pedal powered electric car that is always out on the W&OD between Vienna and Reston? I don’t like seeing it out there because it’s too big, blocks visibility, and the guy drives it like a maniac. I like the idea of the vehicle, but just don’t think it should be on multi-use trails that specifically prohibit motorized vehicles. It’s too bad there’s no real home for it, though, because I wouldn’t feel comfortable in one on the road, either.

Call me a hypocrite, but I have no problem with electric assist bicycles as long as they stick to normal cycling speeds. I guess my big problem with the ELF is the size.

Topic

[ShawnoftheDread]

My supporters usually think I’m wrong but they just don’t care.

[Drewdane]

@kcb203 128086 wrote:

Why are small electric motors OK but gasoline ones are not, even if less powerful? Noise?

And the stench.

[Raymo853]

If this guy accepts my offer of $1500, please disregard all opinions I expressed in this thread.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10208246869022972&set=gm.1720144014882853&type=1&theater

[Anonymous]

Nary a two-wheeled-Chinese-made-bike riding, stretch pants wearing, “environmentalist” hypocrite in sight. Again.

Hang in there SolarBikeCar, defer to all other traffic when possible, but your mode of transportation is America’s best hope to actually REPLACE cars with a healthy, efficient alternative. Organic Transit did their homework. Best of luck from Minnesota.

[Anonymous]

@Lt. Dan 128378 wrote:

I’d like to ask- Do you have any supporters that think you’re in the right?

I do! Back off this guy. The American made ElF is one less car, and actually USABLE as everyday transportation, unlike your lousy Commie made contraption! If the guy is actually rude, that’s different. But, if he’s complying with the rules to the best of his ability, and then some, BACK OFF! You should be cheering for this guy for bringing a few manufacturing jobs back to The U.S. This is unbelievable! Doesn’t anyone CREATE wealth in that part of the country anymore, or are you all lawyers and lobbyists, now?

Good God, Lt. Dan, we can’t even get any U.S. farmed SHRIMP anymore. You, of all people, should know that.

Viva SolarBikeCar!

[hozn]

@OneLessCar 128413 wrote:

IBut, if he’s complying with the rules to the best of his ability, and then some, BACK OFF!

Sounds like someone let their jingoism get in the way of actually reading the thread.

[runbike]

@OneLessCar 128412 wrote:

America’s best hope to actually REPLACE cars with a healthy, efficient alternative.

Mad props on the epic-level trolling!

I don’t think anyone here would disagree with your statement above. In fact I think quite a few on this board have given solar bike car the thumbs up on the Elf as a CAR replacement. The majority just don’t think it belongs on the multi-use trails (including the trail authorities).

[dplasters]

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[Anonymous]

@run/bike 128418 wrote:

Mad props on the epic-level trolling!

“I don’t think anyone here would disagree with your statement above. In fact I think quite a few on this board have given solar bike car the thumbs up on the Elf as a CAR replacement. The majority just don’t think it belongs on the multi-use trails (including the trail authorities).”

Unlike many far over priced Chinese bike riders, with their designer, pocketless, stretch pants, bike gloves, and ridiculously cleated bike shoes, the average ELF user can actually use his bike to replace a car. So, if you are as serious about actually REPLACING the car as you say you are, you would be making every effort to accommodate SolarBikeCar’s ELF on all surfaces, as the stakes in The ELF’s success are so, so much greater than that of the average People’s Republic of China produced recreational bike.

Bottom line, if anything like a bicycle is going to actually replace a car, it MUST, it absolutely MUST be protected from the elements. The majority have made many errors in judgement in this this country, and trying to remove the ELF from any MUP is definitely one of them. If you really had a sincere interest in getting average, American posteriors out of cars and in to USABLE, repeat USABLE, every day, fun, DOMESTICALLY PRODUCED transportation, you would be fighting like hell to get more ELFs on American MUP’s AND roads, not restrict them.

The antipathy toward The ELF is due to ignorance of the consequences of banning it’s use WHEREVER a bike can go, more than anything else. Ease and flexibility of destination method is an absolute must in getting more people out of cars and in to ELFs. Please, do your own research, try to find an alternative to it that can carry hundreds of pounds of groceries through wind, snow, rain, up hills, etc, without tipping over, while keeping the average user and their belongings as safe and dry as The ELF does. You’d like it to be narrower? Well, then it tips over. You’d like it to be lighter? Well, then it can’t carry groceries, or compost, or whatever. You’d like it to be shorter? Well, then it can’t be seen as well. Maybe this man, SolarBikeCar, isn’t the best representative of ELF owners, but it seems to me that he’s now doing his best to defer to other trail users.

Please, don’t burden yourself with the guilt of squashing America’s only hope for sustainable, USABLE, (repeat USABLE) practical, healthy, transportation on all MUP’s. Learn to share the path with ELF users. Better yet, test drive his ELF. You aren’t getting any younger, and car insurance, license fees, taxes, fuel, and maintenance won’t be getting any cheaper. (OK, the fuel might get a little cheaper). If you know of a better technology to get AVERAGE Americans out of their cars and outside, PROTECTED FROM THE ELEMENTS, exercising, in fresh air, year round, to do daily chores on MUP’s, and roads, please let me know.

P.S. I’ve seen The Twike from Germany, the interior gets too hot in the summer, and it’s too low to be safe. The Canadian VeloMetro, just as wide as The ELF, more expensive, and heavier. Flevobike from Germany? Again, too low, too hot, too expensive

P.P.S. You will not find any mode of transportation as efficient and as useful as the ELF.

[consularrider]

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[Anonymous]

@hozn 128415 wrote:

Sounds like someone let their jingoism get in the way of actually reading the thread.

Oh, I read the thread, all 22 pages.

Thirty years of trade debt = decline. That’s a fact. Fortunately, Bob Cotter of Organic Transit has too much integrity to outsource The ELF to to the land of communist state owned steel, oil, coal, mining, aluminum, bike manufacturing, telecommunications, banking, etc. Believe it or not, I’m about the least patriotic person I know, but I do understand basic math, and my family and I live here, year round.

“By preferring the support of DOMESTIC to that of foreign industry, he intends only his own security; and by directing that industry in such a manner as its produce may be of the greatest value, he intends only his own gain, and he is in this, as in many other cases, led by an invisible hand to promote an end which was no part of his intention.”

It’s just The Invisible Hand at work. Ask East Asia. Ask Germany. They understand me.

[Anonymous]

@consularrider 128422 wrote:

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Virginia? A lot of military related employment there. They don’t really want a replacement for ICE use. Of course.

[consularrider]

You say potato, I say patato. As been stated here ad naseum, no one objects to things like the ELF replacing cars in an appropriate location. Over and done with this thread. Will put it on my ignore list (does such a thing exist, or is it just certain posters?).

[dkel]

@consularrider 128426 wrote:

You say potato, I say patato. As been stated here ad naseum, no one objects to things like the ELF replacing cars in an appropriate location. Over and done with this thread. Will put it on my ignore list (does such a thing exist, or is it just certain posters?).

Yeah, this thread has sunk to a new low. It has officially gone crazy-town.

[hozn]

Maybe a moderator can close this thread? I think it is done.

[Author]

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