Gas prices and electric bike sales climb

You are environmentally friendly, and you are about to go out with your friends. You're not about to sweat it up on your bicycle.

Alternative? Grab your electric bike.

The Associated Press shows that with the rising cost of gas, and more people wanting to go green, people are looking towards electric bikes as a step in the right direction.

Electric bikes act as a two wheeler with a battery powered assist, combining old-fashioned pedaling with a battery powered motor. You don't need a license or registration, so long as you don't ride more than 20mph. Most models can ride for at least 20 miles before they need to be recharged.

Gluskin-Townley Group does market research for the national bike dealers association, and estimates 10,000 electric bikes were sold in the U.S. in 2007, up from 6,000 in 2006. "The electric bikes are the next big thing," says Frank Jamerson, a former GM corp exec turned electric vehicle guru.