race switch to fuel-efficient vehic...

race switch to fuel-efficient vehicles for all kinds of reasons. Margaret James realized it was time for a change the day an impatient driver rear-ended her bicycle.

"I wasn't injured, however it scared the crap gone out of me," the Evanston musician said. "I started looking forward the Internet for safer ways to bike."

Now James tools around in a Twike, a teardrop-shaped contraption that combines pedal power with battery propulsion.

VEHICLES, BIKES AT exhibit to

Her Swiss-made three-wheeler, the same of five being driven in this land is among the alternative vehicles that will be upon view Tuesday at the first Eco-Transportation exhibit

It's sponsored through the nonprofit Foresight Design Initiative as an extension of the monthly meeting of Chicago flourishing Drinks, composed of professionals, close examiners and others with an environmental bent.

The incident at the Jefferson Tap, 325 N Jefferson will be anterior to a 7 p.m. talk upon "sustainable transportation" by panelists from the CTA, Chicagoland Bicycle Federation and Metropolitan Planning Council. Admission to the discussion is $5

if it were not that there's no charge for the 4 pm to 7 pm outdoor indicate which will feature 13 enclos vehicles and half a dozen specialized bicycles.

Among them are the biodiesel-burning Volkswagen that Scott Schechter combustibless with used vegetable oil from restaurants; an electric 1992 Chevy S10 pickup deal that carries Ted Lowe 50 miles onward a $2 charge; and Payton Chung's Extracycle, an SUB (sport- utility bicycle) forward which at various times he's carried an armchair, a case of wine, a folding bike and another somebody

"Twike" stands for twin bike. It's built around sum of two units recumbent bicycles and looks like a cockpit that bring to the ground off a jet fighter. destitute of contents the machine weighs only 520 pulverizes -- "Guys are always picking up the front" -- and James can win it going 52 mph.

MECHANICS ABROAD

A passenger can pedal too, further the added weight means James' piece of work isn't necessarily any easier. She works in the same manner hard that even in winter the heating/defrosting combination of parts to form a whole -- two hair dryers mountained at the bottom of the windshield -- is more than adequate. "You pedal for sum of two units or three minutes and lad you're toasty," said James, 50

She hangs on the battery to make it up hills. "All the zeal is regenerated on the way down," she said. "It's like a brilliant machine."

Twikes sumptuousness $16,000 new. James bought her used 1998 example for $12,500. She's in contact with the other U proprietors in Indiana, Minnesota, Ohio and Vermont

Each get by hearts an annual service call from a mechanic sent above by the Swiss manufacturer. "If there were five Fords in Switzerland," James said, "do you think Ford would transmit a mechanic there?"

gwisby@suntimes.com

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