For many, the big city is no place to ride a bicycle. While there are daredevils that relish the danger of risky drivers, potholed streets, and oblivious pedestrians, there are many who just can’t deal all those obstacles. For them, there aren’t very many solutions outside of waiting for a city to implement more bike-friendly policies — something that can take a long time.
The Snik
kyBike positions itself as the perfect hybrid, offering the agility of a kick scooter with the sturdiness and stability of a bike. It’s vintage, penny farthing-like shape allows for these benefits: Its large front wheel offers durability and tight turning circles and its small, motorized rear wheel allows it to go 20mph for about 20-25 miles per charge efficient personal transportation. Adding to the SnikkyBike’s focus on safety is how it requires its riders to stand on foldable footboards, forcing them to stay alert to the environment and also giving them the ability to get off quickly and effortlessly should they need to.
The bike clocks in at 28 pounds due to its patent-pending aluminum frame, eight of those pounds its lockable and removable battery connected to a regenerative braking system. $1,310 grabs backers this upgraded classic, slated to ship November 2016 should its Kickstarter campaign raise about $78,000 by July 30th, 2016.
The SnikkyBike is definitely one of the more interesting personal transportation options being peddled in the crowdfunding world. Its use of a vintage concept makes it all the more compelling, and its light weight, portability, and durability makes for a practical combination. It’s a shame it doesn’t fold up like the Zar, for instance, a feat that would have aided it immensely. Still, the sacrifice does mean for a stronger overall construction, something that can’t be overlooked.