DISASTERS / ON & OFF ROAD
Bicycle Evac
Bicycles, motorcycles, and ATVs share a theme: nimble speed with tighter cargo limits than a car. Match the machine to your route — and provision the Bug-Out Location for what you cannot carry.
Using bicycles as pack horses...
Another option is using bicycles as “pack horses” — sling gear on the bike and walk it out of the evacuation area. Refugees have packed as much as 200 pounds that way, and you still have a bike once it is unpacked. Include extra inner tubes, patch kits, and tools in your bug-out supplies.
Bikes, motorcycles & off-road
Bicycles & three-wheeled bicycles
Pros: Nimble, fast, and widely available; far less energy than hiking the same distance.
Cons: Limited cargo — your Bug Out Bag must be correctly stocked - no extras or limited-utility items. You still need to find food and water along the way.
Street & cafe motorcycles
Pros: “Get outta Dodge” very quickly; very few things can stop a street bike, but with they usually have limited off-road ability.
Cons: Very limited cargo — again, stock your Bug Out Bag (BOB) correctly.
Dirt & trail bikes
Pros: Off-road escape capability far beyond those street bikes.
Cons: They often have much smaller gas tanks than street bikes which can limit range. Still limited on cargo space.
Touring bikes & trailers
Pros: More storage and larger tanks; some accept small trailers or sidecars. Even homemade trailers can help with cargo carrying.
Cons: Weight still matters for smaller motorcycle engines so large cargo loads can be a problem.
ATVs (three and four wheeled) & snowmobiles
Pros: The kings of vehicles for moving people and cargo quickly off-road.
Cons: Noise complaints are usually about how they are ridden — throttle down and drive slowly when stealth and saving gas matters.
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