Background

  
Small in size but big enough for an adult

          Pocket bikes are gas-powered motorcycles that are about 1.2 meters long or larger depending on the various model types and they weigh about 50 pounds. They retail from $300 to as high as $3000 depending on the model type. Pretty much, these miniature motorcycles pack a 50 cc engine and can reach speeds that can exceed 50 km/h. They are popular among youth, young adults and even adults as these miniature bikes are very small but can still be ridden by adults. No license is required towards riding these vehicles but it is still illegal to ride them on the street. Therefore, other cities such as Austrailia have built a race track dedicated for the usage of pocket bikes as this is a growing sport all around the world. Now, pocket bikes are a growing market throughout the world because these miniature bikes can be carried by hand as in you can pick them up with two hands and load them up on your car or truck and take them home.

          Even the Canada Safety Council states that these miniature motorcycles have “suddenly become a major fad,” and are small and light enough to carry under the arm, but big enough for an adult to ride. These bikes retail from $300 to $3000 depending on the model of the bike and what motor applications it contends because they accelerate quickly to speeds of 55 km/hr and faster depending on the modifications. Also the Government of Canada has issued a law to say that these miniature bikes can not be ridden on the road because it does not have a proper V.I.N. number and these bikes are so low to the ground that any potential traffic cannot see them visibly. These vehicles do not meet the safety requirements of a motorcycle and are “quite low to the ground, so motorists may not see them.” Riders of pocket bikes do not require a class 5/6 drivers licensed which is the same rules for go-karting. But there have been problems with “recklessness in areas where they are used on sidewalks and public roads.”

          Pocket bikes have been imported into Canada for approximately three years now. Historically, the purpose of these pocket bikes was to be used in “closed course competition” such as go-kart circuits or race tracks. And so a confined environment would be a solution as there is no traffic, therefore it provides safety for the public due to this popular market of owning a pocket bike. This environment will promote safety for those with a passion of riding motorcycles as there will be no traffic involved except for other motorcycle enthusiasts who want to race one another indoors when it is cold and wet outside. The only place to ride these pocket bikes would have to be in a closed circuit and so a facility of this caliber would be required. Pocket bikes according to the Motor Vehicle Safety Act have to be classified by the manufacturer as “competition vehicles” and must bear a label affixed by the manufacturer stating, in both official languages, that the vehicle is a competition vehicle and is for use exclusively in closed-course competition or is accompanied by a signed declaration clearly indicating that the vehicle is a competition vehicle and is for use exclusively in closed-course competition. The only possible way for these bikes to be registered on the road by Transport Canada is that they are required to have a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), five reflectors, a warning label and a compliance label. The GVRD currently has open race tracks for automobile racing and sometimes motorcycle racing which are located in Mission (Mission Raceway). On a selected day during the summer time, pocket bike races are held in which the public is allowed to come and race their pocket bikes with one another. But this only occurs on selected days as the track is mainly used for auto-cross. Therefore having a facility dedicated for pocket bikes would be a great business venture.

          As there are no direct competitions for pocket bike race tracks, it would be a great idea towards building this facility which should be located closely to the retail shops that sell pocket bikes and the shops that modify them; closeness to residential areas to promote these youths to ride them safely at our facility; close proximity to roads as people from around the GVRD can travel to this facility; also close to a populated area in Langley; any slope that is 15% or less, and must be built on open/undeveloped land. The city of Surrey contains many motorcycle enthusiasts due to the popular motorcycle school known as “Pacific Riding School”. This school is well recognized as people wanting to learn how to ride a motorcycle are referred by other motorcyclists who have taken this school. I, myself have graduated from this school in order to learn how to ride and also to practice safe riding skills on the city streets. Surrey is the neighboring city to Langley in which it is in close proximity for motorcycle enthusiasts to travel to this facility (if built) during the winter season when the riding season is over. Also people traveling from around the GVRD especially from Vancouver will only take 45 minutes to travel to this location which isn't that big of a commute. I'm sure during the summer season, motorcyclists will still want to go to this facility as it will be a happy environment where many motorcyclists would like to hang out and socialize.