| When you think of human powered vehicles what | | | | worry about car insurance bills, tune ups, maybe |
| comes to mind? Most will think of different forms of | | | | tickets, cleanings, and the most lethal of expenses now |
| bikes. There is the bicycle, unicycle, and tricycle. Did | | | | gas prices. Gas prices are hovering around $3.00 per |
| you also consider these vehicles? Consider these the | | | | gallon.It has never been cheaper and more beneficial |
| canoe, ice skates, roller skates, kick scooter, skis, trikke | | | | to go back to those self human powered vehicles that |
| and skateboard. All of which are fun to use and our | | | | we all loved so much growing up. Growing up self |
| powered by muscular movement on our part.For most | | | | powered vehicles were used strictly for recreational |
| of us the very first vehicle we drove ourselves was | | | | proposes. Now as adults why not use self powered |
| not an automobile. It was most likely some from of | | | | vehicles for those short journeys? Not only is it |
| transportation powered by yourself and not a motor. It | | | | beneficial financially, but also is a good source of |
| was nothing fancy just another way to get from here | | | | exercise.A recent HPV that was recently invented is |
| to there. In most cases it probably wasn't even faster | | | | the IT Segaway scooter.by Dean Kamen of New |
| than we could have done crawling or walking, but it | | | | Hampshire? This is a human powered transporter |
| sure was fun. This vehicle was called a tricycle: a | | | | which moves by the motion of the person on it. It is |
| simple 3-wheeled contraption that used handle bars | | | | self balancing. It only has two wheels it looks like an |
| atop a rotating front wheel to steer and was powered | | | | ordinary hand truck dolly. To move forward or |
| by your very own legs.Once you mastered the use of | | | | backwards the person leans slightly forward or |
| your tricycle you were ready for the big time, a bicycle. | | | | backwards to go in that direction.Inventors are very |
| Now this was much faster and more challenging than | | | | inspired by human powered vehicles. They have been |
| a tricycle. The transition went smoothly as it came with | | | | inventing ways to travel using the human muscular |
| the subtraction of one back wheel, but was | | | | motion for years. There is an International Human |
| accompanied by the addition of two training wheels. | | | | Powered Vehicle Association which promotes |
| Then when you were ready you could remove the | | | | improvement, creativity and innovation in the use of |
| training wheels and after a few falls you were off and | | | | human power vehicles, especially in the design and |
| loving it.Then you got a car and transportation would | | | | development of the HPV's. There are also many |
| never be the same again. That care free joyous | | | | contests and races involving the HPV. HPV's can ride |
| feeling is gone. With a car came much more | | | | on land, water and even in the air. |
| responsibility and more expenses. Now you had to | | | | |