Could have been me, the tenements in back are virtually identical to my Grandmothers' apartment that was in the flats also same garage buildings too. Thanks always good to reminisce about Holyoke.
1962 RALEIGH MOPED Hello, It pays to be known with a history of motorcycle racing and building engines, etc. In the Summer of 1963, a friend went to a party in Belmont Shore. When we arrived, the party was not yet outside in the small front yard. The majority of small homes on the ocean side of 2nd Street in downtown Belmont Shore have small front yards and sometimes no backyard. On the inland side, the homes get larger and there are apartment buildings, too. It was summer and everyone was in a great mood. As we were talking, he asked me if I wanted to ride his latest purchase. A used Raleigh Moped. A Moped is a small motor powered bicycle/motor scooter. It was a bicycle due to the pedal power usage for starting to go down the street. It was a small motorcycle due to the dinky motor that powered the chassis. It was stable and easy to get going with the cars on the lanes. The slow lane was usually the correct lane and a colorful jacket was necessary. One could stay in the slow lane due to the power or lack thereof, so one did not bother the cars in the lanes. No bicycle lanes back then. Jnaki There was a small gas tank, but the dinky motor did not use up very much gas. The trip to Bixby Knolls from Belmont Shore was about 9 miles. I did not have to fill up the tank during my road trip. So, 9 miles up and 9 miles East to another drive-in restaurant where some of my friends would hang out. The Moped was an attraction. And everyone thought it was the latest fun thing to own. Then another 9 miles back to another drive-in restaurant near a golf course, too. No, I did not have to go around the Traffic Circle. That would have been nerve racking... There were side streets to take, to pass up that horrendous interchange. Then it was back to Belmont Shore and stop/go traffic did use up some gas, so I filled the dinky tank and it did not take very much gas. In 1964 on for several years, the Moped craze took off and almost everyone seemed to have one. But, as the accidents and damages started, the local rules changed and licenses were necessary. So, after those hectic years, the craze slowed down and then it all disappeared. Note: It seems like the new electric powered bicycles are similar in familiarity. But, now, we are seeing the same thing happening. Almost everyone uses an electric bicycle. And, yes, the accidents are happening, so the local cities have clamped down on age appropriate usage and 16 or over with a license. The rules are different in cities and they are still trying to get one set of CHP coordinated rules for everyone. So, be on the lookout for those tiny electric bicycles in the day, but especially at night. YRMV
In the group of pictures the one of the woman holding the phone says it all. Isn't it gonna be great we can talk on a phone as we walk around in the future.
The Jalopy Journal
