Bicycles Bicycles have been featured prominently as a mode of transportation in a variety of Muppet productions and appear to be a particular favorite of Kermit the Frog . Early specials . The first instance of Muppet biking occurred in " The Muppets Valentine Show " , in which Kermit rode a bicycle in the " Froggy Went A Courtin ' " number until he crashed it into a fence . Kermit next rode a bicycle in " Emmet Otter ' s Jug - Band Christmas " . In the special ' s opening moments , Kermit cycles down a bumpy country lane before being blindsided by the Riverbottom Nightmare Band . A scale model bicycle was constructed for and ridden by a special marionette Kermit , created and operated by Frank Oz . The Muppet Movie . In " The Muppet Movie " , Kermit begins the journey from his swamp to Hollywood on a Schwinn bicycle . This appears to be a full - scale bike , as opposed to the previously used puppet - sized ones . However , the same effects used in " Emmet Otter ' s Jug - Band Christmas " were applied in the filming of this scene . In addition to the marionette used in long shots , a Kermit hand puppet was used in close - ups , where it was operated by Jim Henson from a low - rolling dolly . The two types of shots were intercut repeatedly to enhance the illusion . The scene of Kermit riding the bicycle is the first in the movie - within - a - movie that features a Muppet in the real world ; it ' s a striking image that captures the audience ' s attention . In 2007 , director James Frawley remarked : Dave Goelz gave additional behind - the - scenes insight at a 2007 screening of " Emmet Otter " : The 2013 Blu - ray release of the film features a hidden easter egg containing three minutes of multiple takes from the filming of the scene where Kermit enters the town in which he first spots a Doc Hopper ' s Frog Legs restaurant being built . The Great Muppet Caper . In an interview promoting " The Great Muppet Caper " , Frank Oz recalled : " The Great Muppet Caper " featured bicycle riding at the center of the musical set - piece " Couldn ' t We Ride . " Kermit and Miss Piggy renew their courtship in a London park on rented bicycles and are soon joined by Fozzie , Gonzo , and a crowd of The Happiness Hotel denizens , riding close together . Although marionette devices continued to be used in this sequence , the process was simplified when multiple bicycles were in the same shot . Two bicycles could be connected together with a stiff rod from axle to axle , eliminating the need to hold the bicycles up and enabling them both to be pulled from in front . In shots of the whole Muppet gang , the entire mass of bicycles - - all wired together - - was pulled by a fleet of over - sized tricycles and bicycles , ridden by Brian Henson and other performers . Another innovation in this sequence was the use of radio controls to move the characters ' mouths in long shots . Just as in " The Muppet Movie " , bike - riding Muppets were hand puppets in close - ups . Some shots featured Kermit in the foreground as a hand puppet , with Piggy as a marionette behind him , and other such mixtures of technique . Jim Henson explained all this in the " Jim Henson Hour " episode " , " adding that the rig that allowed Kermit and Piggy to ride their bikes around in opposite circles and then come up next to each other " was so complicated that you ' re going to have to figure that one out for yourself . " Other bicycles . Scooter rode a bike in two brief scenes in " The Muppets Take Manhattan " , once during the song " Saying Goodbye " ( in a wide shot ) , and again when looking for Kermit ( in a close - up shot ) . Kermit rode bicycles in " The Jim Henson Hour " opening ( sampled from " The Great Muppet Caper " footage ) , " Muppets on Wheels " , and in a commercial for the Ford Hybrid . In the Ford Hybrid commercial , the bicycle was controlled by a green pole that was digitally removed later . " The Muppet Show " features a story about Kermit ' s bike getting stolen in The Muppet Theatre ' s back alley . His poor choice in parking spots would later be illustrated in a released by Milton Bradley ( which later appeared in Before You Leap , although slightly altered ) . Scooter and Janice also ride a tandem bicycle in the background of one scene in " Muppet * Vision 3D " . Elmo interviews a Bicycle and Helmet in the " Elmo ' s World " episode " . " Gary and Walter ride a tandem bicycle in " The Muppets " during the " Life ' s a Happy Song " opening number .