Hybrid: Pod-shaped ride keeps pedaler dry, warm
JOHN DODGE; The Olympian |OLYMPIA - An eclectic mix of bicycles, scooters and hybrid cars makes up the fleet of alternative commuter vehicles here in town.
But none draws a more startled and curious reaction from onlookers and fellow drivers than the velomobile captained by Joshua Brann.
When Brann, 29, whizzes by in his low-slung, bright-yellow vehicle, jaws drop and necks crane to catch a lingering look.
“Riding a velomobile around town seems to put a smile on everybody’s face,” said Brann, a GIS analyst for the Thurston County Strategic Planning Department.
A velomobile is a recumbent tricycle encased in an aerodynamic, fiberglass shell and equipped with a lighting system, including a headlight, a tail light, turn signals and a brake light.
Perhaps the most significant feature of Brann’s pedal-powered vehicle built by bluevelo, an Ontario-based company, is a battery pack with electronics that, when switched on, can boost the pedaling power by 25 percent to 300 percent. And the battery pack can be recharged when the driver brakes or goes down hills, Brann said.
Read the rest of the article HERE*Posted by Shelby "This looks like a transportation alternative that might be a great fit for our community..."