Formation | 1997 |
---|---|
Location | |
Region served | |
Membership |
|
Official language |
|
Leader |
|
Website | Official Homepage |
The Moped Army is an organization of moped enthusiasts centered on the organization's website, which serves as a catalyst for the spread of moped culture and the organization of moped-related events throughout the US and Canada.
Founded in 1997 as the "Decepticons" in Kalamazoo, Michigan, by Daniel "Weber" Kastner, Simon King, and Brennan Sang. [1] The founders and other millennials were attracted to mopeds due to their uniqueness and for being socially responsible. [2] [3] The Moped Army was planned as a network to strengthen the community. [3]
Members ride 1970s 2-horsepower mopeds that go 25-30 MPH. Due to the mopeds age and speed, they are inexpensive to purchase and maintain with more experienced members teaching newer ones. Members join for solidarity and support and are typically students or recent graduates with men making up roughly two-thirds of all members. [4] [5] In larger cities such as San Francisco, riders appreciate the ease of parking. [6]
The branches each have a unique name, often inspired by the city in which they are based, and are self-governing; implementing their own criteria regarding membership and activities. With the motto "Swarm and Destroy." [7] Branches host local rides at a regular cadence and an annual muti-day rally where they invite riders from the national branches to ride in their city. [4] [5] [3]
As of 2023, there are 28 active branches and 7 emeritus branches of the Moped Army. [1] The emeritus distinction is granted to branches that have been with the Moped Army for over a decade and requested retirement. [1]
In 2002, at an event held in Kalamazoo, Michigan, by the Decepticons’ branch of the Moped Army, a documentary titled Swarm and Destroy was filmed. The documentary chronicles the event in Kalamazoo as well as moped culture as a whole. The individuals documented for the production of the film recounted tales of bizarre happenings while riding their mopeds, and shared what inspired them to come together in camaraderie. [8] [2]
The Moped Army has been the subject of a graphic novel by Paul Sizer. [9] Founders of the organization provided technical information of mopeds to support the storyline. [10]
Members of the "emeritus" Chicago branch of Moped Army, Peddy Cash, were featured in the music video for the song "Re-Education (Through Labor)" by the American rock band Rise Against, which was released in September 2008. In the video, they are seen riding their mopeds through a city and planting bombs. [11]
Kalamazoo College is a private liberal arts college in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Founded in 1833 by Baptist ministers as the Michigan and Huron Institute, Kalamazoo is the oldest private college in the U.S. state of Michigan. From 1840 to 1850, the institute operated as the Kalamazoo Branch of the University of Michigan. After receiving its charter from the state in 1855, the institute changed its name to Kalamazoo College.
Kenneth Terry Jackson is a professor emeritus of history and social sciences at Columbia University. A frequent television guest, he is best known as an urban historian and a preeminent authority on the history of New York City, where he lives on the Upper West Side.
Transformers is a media franchise produced by American toy company Hasbro and Japanese toy company Takara Tomy. It primarily follows the heroic Autobots and the villainous Decepticons, two alien robot factions at war that can transform into other forms, such as vehicles and animals. The franchise encompasses toys, animation, comic books, video games and films. As of 2011, it generated more than ¥2 trillion in revenue, making it one of the highest-grossing media franchises of all time.
The Diocese of Kalamazoo is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory, or diocese, of the Catholic Church in southwestern Michigan in the United States. It is a suffragan diocese in the ecclesiastical province of the metropolitan Archdiocese of Detroit.
Many countries have enacted electric vehicle laws to regulate the use of electric bicycles, also termed e-bikes. Some jurisdictions have regulations governing safety requirements and standards of manufacture. The members of the European Union and other regions have wider-ranging legislation covering use and safety.
The Republican Main Street Partnership is a nonprofit organization that raises funds to support politicians in the moderate wing of the Republican Party. The Republican Main Street Partnership does not advocate for legislation, but offers networking and mentorship opportunities and provides a forum for discussion. The Partnership is affiliated with a super PAC called Defending Main Street. The Partnership is also affiliated with the Republican Main Street Caucus, a Republican congressional member organization that takes pragmatic conservative positions.
Optimus Prime, also known in Japan as Convoy, is a fictional character and the protagonist of the Transformers franchise. The Transformers characters were developed for an American market after Hasbro representatives visited the 1983 Tokyo Toy Show. The characters were modified and the coloring was changed; notably, Optimus Prime was colored red, chrome, and dark blue. The popularity of the Transformers toys resulted in comics, movies, and even a TV series.
The Writers Guild of America West (WGAW) is a labor union representing film, television, radio, and new media writers. It was formed in 1954 from five organizations representing writers, including the Screen Writers Guild. It has around 20,000 members.
Minneapolis, the largest city in Minnesota and the county seat of Hennepin County, operates under a Mayor–council government system. This article provides an overview of the structure and functions of Minneapolis's city government, focusing on the city council, mayoral office, and other key elements of local governance.
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen is a third-person shooter video game based on the 2009 live action film Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. It is the sequel to 2007's Transformers: The Game, and the second video game adaptation of the live-action Transformers film series. The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions of the game were developed by Luxoflux, and ported to Microsoft Windows by Beenox. The PlayStation 2 and Wii versions were developed by Krome Studios, and the PlayStation Portable version was developed by Savage Entertainment. All versions of the game were published by Activision, and released on June 23, 2009 in the United States. Australia received the games one day later, and Europe on June 26. A sequel, Transformers: Dark of the Moon, was released in June 2011, based on the film on the same name.
Transformers is a comic book series by IDW Publishing, spun off from the Transformers film series.
Badhan District is a district located in the Sanaag country of Somaliland. Its capital is Badhan.
Ninjago is an animated epic-fantasy superhero television series produced by The Lego Group. It was created to coincide with the Lego Ninjago line of construction toys, which is based on the characters and events of the series. It centers on the fictional world of Ninjago, telling the story of a group of six teenage ninjas and their battles against the forces of evil. The series was created by Michael Hegner and Tommy Andreasen, two Danish film producers. The storyline was written by Kevin and Dan Hageman until the ninth season; their successor as the head writer was Bragi Schut. The show features a large ensemble cast of voice actors who had recurring roles in the series. The English-language voice cast was recorded in Canada for its entire run. The music was scored by composers Michael Kramer and Jay Vincent.
Transformers: Dark of the Moon is an action-adventure video game based on the 2011 film of the same name. It is the sequel to 2009's Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, and the third video game adaptation of the live-action Transformers film series. Unlike the first two games, Dark of the Moon follows an original story, set before the events of the film it is based on, and features only one campaign, which alternates between the Autobots and the Decepticons. A spin-off, Transformers: Rise of the Dark Spark, was released in June 2014.
The National Defence Forces is a pro-government militia, that was formed on 1 November 2012 and organized by the Syrian government during the Syrian Civil War as a part-time volunteer reserve component of the Syrian Armed Forces.
Transformers: Cyberverse is a cel shaded computer-animated series based on the Transformers toy franchise by Hasbro. The series debuted on Cartoon Network on August 27, 2018.
Harriet Maxine Hageman is an American politician and attorney serving as the U.S. representative for Wyoming's at-large congressional district since 2023. She is a member of the Republican Party.
Transformers: EarthSpark is an animated television series based on the Transformers toyline by Hasbro. It was developed by Dale Malinowski, Ant Ward and Nicole Dubuc for the streaming service Paramount+, and it has since been licensed to Netflix. The series is produced by Entertainment One in partnership with Nickelodeon Animation Studio, with animation services provided by Icon Creative Studio. The series premiered in November 2022 and has been renewed for a second season.