Retired priest pedals for shopping sprees

At 91 years of age Father Michael Burke is able to do what many people his age cannot. He has no trouble getting around on his 3-wheel motorized fully equipped bicycle, complete with a canopy, rear view side mirror, horn and two baskets–one in the front and one in the back.

Father Burke recently moved from Villa Maria to St. John Vianney Retirement Home for Priests and pedals himself to Wal-Mart, HEB and two nearby convenient stores. He carries everything he needs in his bicycle baskets.

Father Burke said he is pragmatic so he charges his electrical bicycle motor every night and is set to go the following morning. He carries clippers, a miniature broom and a dustpan in one of the baskets.

He uses the clippers to cut the tree limbs in his path and the small broom and dustpan is used for cleaning up broken bottles thrown carelessly on the sidewalk where he rides. The glass could put an end to his tires and walking back is not an option he would care to undertake, especially pushing along the bicycle in the summer heat.

"Green Volt EV Conversions," located a few minutes walk from where he lives, made the bicycle. He told them what he wanted and they converted a 3-wheel bicycle with a motor that can go up to speeds of 30-miles-per-hour.

Father Burke loves that he can ride against the wind with relatively no pedaling, as most bicyclist will attest, it is not easy to ride a 3-speed bicycle against the wind, but with a motor Father Burke makes it look not only easy, but fun.