A terrific strategy—in this report from the Sacramento Bee—for many communities and perhaps existing bike lanes can be enlarged to accommodate them as they could possibly be compatible with bikes.
An excerpt.
“Kids at Lincoln's Foskett Ranch Elementary know Will Honeywell as the third-grader whose parents drive a funny-looking car.
"He gets a lot of attention," said his father, David, who, with his wife, Seana, owns a Neighborhood Electric Vehicle.
"Though their NEV can still prompt questions from strangers, the Honeywells are one of more than 600 families in Lincoln who drive them as part of their everyday life.
"The vehicles are growing increasingly common in Lincoln, part of what city planners see as a trend, spreading particularly among younger residents, such as the Honeywells, who are in their mid-30s.
"And as the drivers turn to NEVs as an alternative to costly, polluting conventional cars, they find in Lincoln a city that welcomes them with miles of designated lanes.
"Today, state officials and numerous cities see Lincoln as a model of how to design communities to accommodate and even promote the use of energy-saving NEVs…
"Slightly larger than golf carts, NEVs can seat two additional passengers and travel 10 mph faster. They are equipped with seat belts, brake lights, rear lights, headlights, mirrors and a windshield. Unless prohibited, they can travel on any city street with a maximum speed limit of 35 mph.
"NEVs come in all shapes, sizes and styles, but most look like oversized bugs on wheels. They travel no faster than 25 mph but can fit four people and achieve the electrical energy equivalent of more than 150 miles per gallon of gasoline."
