Organization:Moped Army

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Moped Army
HS Rally Pic02.jpg
A 2008 rally organized by Moped Army
Formation1997
Location
Region served
Membership
  • 965 (active)
  • 307 (emeritus)
Official language
  • English
  • Spanish
  • French
Leader
  • Daniel "Weber" Kastner
  • Simon King
  • Brennan Sang
WebsiteOfficial 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.

About

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]

Branches

Landsquids branch emblem

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 popular culture

Swarm and Destroy (2002)

Title card of the 2002 documentary, ‘Swarm and Destroy’
Title card of the 2002 documentary, Swarm and Destroy

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]

Moped Army graphic novel (2005)

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]

Rise Against music video (2008)

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]

External links

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Branches — Moped Army" (in en). https://www.mopedarmy.com/branches/. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Jonsson, Patrik (25 April 2006). "High gas prices propel a new 'moped madness'". The Christian Science Monitor (The Christian Science Monitor). http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/0425/p01s01-ussc.html. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "The Iron Hoodies" (in en). October 12, 2005. https://www.metrotimes.com/arts/the-iron-hoodies-2182778. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Hageman, William (August 1, 2004). "Moped Army is fueled with all the might a 2-horsepower engine can muster". The Chicago Tribune: pp. 13-1, 13-8. https://www.newspapers.com/image/231300451/?terms=%22moped%20army%22&match=1. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Mopeds / FIx them yourself" (in en). May 7, 2007. pp. 1, 6. https://wikipedialibrary.wmflabs.org/. 
  6. ↑ Harmanci, Reyhan (2005-12-27). "Moped diaries / You pedal, you ride, you hit a top speed of 20..." (in en). https://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/moped-diaries-you-pedal-you-ride-you-hit-a-2555441.php. 
  7. ↑ Hageman, William (22 September 2004), "Army revives 70s moto trend", Eastern Echo), http://www.easternecho.com/cgi-bin/story.cgi?4356, retrieved 2009-03-02 
  8. ↑ VanPutten, Michael (2021-03-22). "'Swarm and Destroy' documentary tells the story of The Moped Army" (in en-US). https://www.michaelvanputten.com/moped-army-swarm-destroy/. 
  9. ↑ Sizer, Paul (2005) (in en). Moped Army. Cafe Digital Comics. ISBN 978-0-9768565-4-2. https://books.google.com/books?id=NI0qAAAAYAAJ. 
  10. ↑ "WMU News - Army of 'Moped' fans await award announcements". https://www.wmich.edu/wmu/news/2006/05/019.html. 
  11. ↑ "Rise Against - Re-Education (Through Labor)" (in en), Re-Education (Through Labor), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QnbvOi4SpSk, retrieved 2023-06-13 



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