L AST CALL
TRANSPORT
EASY RIDER
With the launch of its electric Model 1, Civilized Cycles introduces transportation technology that blurs the line between bike and car. By Rachel Gallaher
AFTER FIVE YEARS OF DESIGN, development, and
testing, Brooklyn-based Civilized Cycles has released the Model 1 electric bike—the world’s first e-bike with self-leveling air suspension that adjusts to the weight of passengers and cargo. The brainchild of Zachary Schieffelin, who founded Civilized Cycles in 2016, the Model 1’s function-driven form is meant to
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provide a smooth, steady trip. “Most other folks are putting motors on a regular bicycle and calling it quits,” Schieffelin says. “We see the opportunity as being much larger: We’re creating a new class of vehicle engineered around broader consumer needs and behaviors.” Blending the functionality of a cargo bike with the
