Roadster has cycle speed

Roadster has cycle speed

It’s not quite a car and not quite a bike, but the company behind bringing the latest

green vehicle to the city’s streets hopes Toronto will be the place the velomobile

takes off.

Deriving its name from speed and mobile, the velomobile is a human-powered adult

trike. For those who need a little help climbing hills, a small electric motor is an optional

add-on.

First popular in the Netherlands, Denmark and Germany, the bubble-shaped roadster is

already spinning heads in Toronto, says Ray Mickevicius of Bluevelo.com, a local sales and

rental company that has recently made the velomobile part of its stock.

“We have had people of all ages contact us, families, couples,” he says. “I think it’s

safe to say that not one of them could wipe the smile off their face after a ride.”

Velomobiles can reach speeds of almost 50 km/h. All are equipped with lights, turn

signals, storage space, wipers and disc brakes.

While a price tag of $5,000 may turn off some recreational users, Mickevicius says it

pales in comparison to the cost of car insurance, fuel, repairs and monthly payments for

those who intend to use the vehicle for daily commuting.

“Many of the individuals who contact us want to extend their riding season and are

looking for a way to cycle comfortably in almost any weather conditions ... Others are

looking for the fastest ‘bike’ they can find,” he says.

Mickevicius sees a market in Toronto not only because it’s his hometown, but “it is also

a city with a strong base of cycling shops that push the boundaries and offer a large range of

options to riders.

The wide range of weather conditions also makes it an area in which the advantages of a

velomobile are obvious.”

-           Monique Savin, 24 hours