Page 44 RAIN Winter/Spring 1991 The Cycle Column: Working Bikes The bicycle and tricycle's versatility and efficiency have long been recognized in less wealthy countries than our own. Although bikes and trikes are considered toys by US government economists, many people use them for transportation: We visited a little cycle company m Ozone Park, N.Y. whose products have found their way into the otherwise energy-intensive factory environment. Worksman Cycles Corporation is a small but innovative operation, building their bikes from scratch in their Ozone Park factory. Besides making an assortment of sturdy recreational bikes and trikes, they make extra heavy duty cycles able to carry a load of up to one-fourth of a ton. These are used for transporting people and material in government agencies, factories, foundries, airports, refineries, shopping malls, amusement parks, apartment complexes, construction sites and shipyards. The buyers of these humanpowered vehicles benefit from lower indoor pollution levels and decreased repair and operation costs. Even big corporations use them (Chrysler, Exxon, General Motors, and others). The Northwest distributor of Worksman Cycle's is: Seattle Bicycle - Supply, Kent, WA 98032;· tel.(206) 251-1516. Worksman's Cycles is located at: 94-15 100th St., Ozone Park, N.Y. 11416. (Now that's an address that will remind us to ride a bike!); tel.(718) 322-2000, fax.(718) 529-4803. Worksman bikes are built in a working class neighborhood, Ozone Park, in Queens, a borough ofNew York City. The company is very proud of their cycles, which they have been building since 1898, including the only folding bike made in the United States.
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