Too Slow: Observations on the e-bike 2 weeks in.
As the weather warms up, the folding e-bike is getting more usage. A couple of observations:
The 12in Umbrella is actually slower than a folding bike. This is unexpected and directly related to the lack of gears - this is the smallest and cheapest model that Pedego offers. It's pretty much a deal breaker. With only one super-low gear you never go faster than the motor's top speed because the motor stops giving power above a certain speed, while the pedals aren't geared high enough to allow you to pedal.
The build quality on the Umbrella is pretty good, but the build quality on the charger is not. The metal connection between the charger endpiece and the charging wire came broken with screws missing. I think I actually shocked myself when I first put the charger on.
It's ungainly. Putting the bike in and out of cars is troublesome. I'm a big guy, but lifting 50 pounds at the end of a 4 ft stick puts my back into a workout.
There is a multi-color battery status indicator that works well to give you an idea of how much juice is remaining. It works well.
Another Miserable Week for Bus Stops – Written by a Guest Contributor
Well, it has been another gray week in the DC area. I have to admit that I like snow much more than this persistent rain.
Life would be so much easier if I could just drive my car. To add insult to injury, I sent out a check for my car insurance for a car that I don't even drive.
If only I had used Drivers Incorporated, I would not be in this mess. The worst thing about it is that I am unable to drive during the worst weather of the year. If it were summer, I would at least be able to ride a bike around. This winter has been just awful, with three major snow storms, high winds and below average temperatures.
You and your friends don't have to repeat my mistake. Drivers Incorporated offers a service that I certainly should have used. To think that a $40 bill could have saved me from all of this aggravation is beyond belief.
Until next time, take care.
New Transportation options – Folding electric bicycle
Today we purchased our first electric bike. For the past few years I have been using a Dahon folding bicycle. Although I had finally worked most of the kinks out of the Dahon, I felt the convenience of an electric bike was well worth the investment. The Dahon spent a significant amount of time in the shop cooling its heels and waiting for service - not useful.
The electric bike that I purchased is a Pedego Umbrella with 12 inch wheels. The childlike wheels make me feel like I am riding something out of The Jetsons. They make the bike smaller and lighter than the standard folding bike (which has 16 in wheels), which is key to fitting into a variety of cars. However, fitting these Umbrellas into cars is much harder than the typical folding bike. The large lithium ion battery adds a substantial amount of weight to the top of the bike. I also have to push the handlebars and seat down to fit it into smaller trunks.
The differences between the 12 inch and the standard models extend beyond the folding design and the electric assist. The Umbrella I received is white, a terrible color for a working bicycle. Every spot of dirt and grime is rubbed into the white leather and rubber accents that make the bike so cute.
The Pedego folding design is substantially different from the 16 in Dahon Speed 7 that I bought when originally starting the business. The Dahon has a center bracket that folds the bike in half, lining up the wheels next to each other. The Pedego folds by putting the wheels one in front of another so you can still roll the bicycle forward while it is collapsed. Even though the bike is harder to get into cars and shows much more dirt, the first hill you hit with the electric assist makes it all worthwhile.
Another beautiful day not to drink and drive – Written by a Guest Contributor
Well it looks like the worst of winter is over. Grass is finally starting to peek out from under a blanket of snow. I can't wait until the remainder of the snow melts and I am able to give my bike a good workout. One of the best things about losing your drivers license is the increase in exercise you get. I have also noticed that my consumption of fast food is way down. Without the means to go to a drive-through it actually becomes more convenient to cook for myself.
Until next time - I hope you have a safe week.
Great News – Written by a guest contributor
So I went to my ASAP class on Saturday and my class will not be extended the extra two weeks as a result of the snow days. Thanks to scheduling issues, we will be making up the two missed classes on Sundays. This means that the class will only go for the allotted eight weeks and not ten.
This is great news for me - it means I will get my drivers license two weeks earlier than expected. I can't wait to be on the road again.
Drinking and driving is just not worth the hassle.
The worst timing for snow EVER
Winter (the time that your designated drivers make all their money, BTW) has been a schoolkids dream. Every time that I see the snow on the ground the little kid inside of me grins with pleasure. Actually, I grin a little on the outside too.
All this snow on Friday and Saturday nights has played unhappy havoc with driving. We try our best to avoid surcharges and extra fees, and so driving in the snow reduces our drivers income by about 50%. Even so, we get there on time because we know that you are counting on us.
Let's hope that all this forced confinement won't result in a disastrously busy weekend in the coming months - but we are already stocking up on more drivers so that we can cover that possibility. So, give us a call as you dig yourself out of the snow, and let us help you celebrate a winter wonderland.
A snow day – written by a guest contributor
So it snowed on Saturday. I really wish it hadn't. I called the ASAP place Friday night and there was a message saying that all classes were scheduled as usual.
The next morning I had a family member drive me to the office. On the way, it was snowing pretty heavily and I decided to try the ASAP number again. The message was thoroughly confusing. It said that classes on December 20th were canceled, but that normal classes would resume on Monday, December 21st. Since it was late January, they had obviously made a mistake. I decided too keep going and make sure the class was canceled in person.
During the first class orientation, they had stressed upon me the very strict attendance policy. After driving out to Fairfax in the middle of a snow storm, a note on the door told me that the day's Drunk Driving class was postponed.
Not only did this mean a wasted day. It also meant a wasted week. The ASAP class consists of 8 classes but is scheduled for 10 weeks. This is to account for any snow days or holidays. This just means another week before I can get my Drivers License back
Week 3 of ASAP – written by a guest contributor
This means that I only have 5 more classes left. I am already counting the days before I can take the drivers test and finally get my license.
The topic of class this week was kind of interesting. We ended up talking a lot this week about the progression of drug and alcohol use from adolescence. When a child is diagnosed as ADD or ADHD, he is more often than not prescribed a regimen of amphetamines. If that child starts experimenting with drugs or alcohol, he or she often doesn't realize that the ADD medicine has interactions with these new drugs and can be very dangerous.
The addition of stimulants like Ritalin or Adderol to alcohol increases some people’s tolerance to alcohol. In the past, heavy drinking may have caused a teenager to pass out. Now if he or she is prescribed amphetamines, they will often be able to stay up later, drinking even more. This could possibly get their BAC up to a very dangerous level.
Transportation to the ASAP class this week wasn't so bad. I didn't have to deal with the Saturday bus schedule. I asked my roommate to drop me off there and had a classmate drop me off at a metro stop after the class was finished.
The Falls Church News Press ran a NYE piece on us!
Natalie came by and talked to us about our business, after having seen one of our signs in a bar in Falls Church. It details parts of our service, and features my terrible off-the-cuff grammar. You can also see the bicycle that is sometimes used to get back from a short run or for connections to public transit. Check it out!
http://www.fcnp.com/news/5528-safe-ride-businesses-police-out-in-full-force.html
I need that program ASAP, like yesterday! – written by a guest contributor
Well I finally got into the alcohol class. My first session was yesterday. The program runs 10 weeks, including 2 extra classes for snow days or holidays. I have a good teacher, and from the orientation it seems like the class will be more about group therapy than boring lectures.
This whole ordeal is starting to get expensive. The evaluation and class itself cost about $450 and I am paying $35 a week for a friend of mine who is down on his luck to drive me there and back.
But I can finally see a light at the end of the tunnel. In ten short weeks I will have completed the requirements to get my license back.
