The Bicycle of the Future!

[felltablet]

I love the design of the bike, however, the bus station concept is beyond ridiculous.
The energy required to constantly move the bicycles into the air and subsequently hand them off to passengers negates the idea of them being used to help generate wind energy.
Keep them on the ground, let people just unlock and pick them up.

 

[felltablet]

Well the whole deal for it being compact that you could carry it on a bus also means you could just keep it to your side like a Laptop. This looks rather nice, but the think most of these high end bike makers don't understand is people who ride bikes everywhere do it because they can't afford to do much else. I have to bike two miles to get anywhere. Unless they are selling this for 100-200 dollar range odds are it will go the way of most cool concept bikes and only a concept.

Also, this is completely right, however, in this concept the bikes are rented out to replace cars in a new form of commuting.
If they were not the bike would most likely cost $2000+.

 

[Captain Lag]

I was expecting this bike when I read this title and got excited...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1Pn-PvhY_0

 

[General Alexei]

Interesting concept. A problem that immediately springs to mind with this particular rendition: how do you steer? I'm not talking about how there's no direct connection between the handle-bars and the bike (although if you're relying on electronic steering, I would question the safety of this when grandma's scooter runs out of juice as she rides through Chelsea), no, I'm talking about how the bike wheel turns. Look at a standard bike and you'll see that wheel turns on an axis straight through the centre. This makes sense because that's the part that's on the road, so can pivot as you move.

The concept of this thing, however, the wheel turns at the back end, meaning the part that's on the road has to be somehow dragged to the side in order to put the wheel on an angle with the rest of the bike. Not gonna be easy.

Well, seeing as the thingys connecting the bike to the body, they can bend can't they. And the wheel bends with them doesn't it? So turn the handle which turns the thingy which turns the wheel. Simple. At least it is in my mind. And maybe they will make it so that only the back wheel turns. or something.

 

[Mullahgrrl]

Pedal? why? It is solar powered!

To my experience people are a lit creepier on busses and I have never entered a bus and found the change in temperature beneficial, one dresses acording to the outside weather damnit, otherwise one is a blistering idiot!

Have you been to London? Solar powered isn't always the most practical, particularly if you store your bike in a garage and come outside to a dark grey, rainy day..or if you have an errand to run after sundown.

As for "dressing for the weather", yes, that is practical. But I live in Central Florida, and there is no amount of dressing that can make 100*F wet heat any easier to stand. sometimes, it's nice to sit in an air conditioned bus for a few minutes than work your way through sunny heat. Or, what about job interviews? One's best suit isn't always practical for the heat, either.

I'm not saying the bike isn't a great idea - it is. I was merely defending why someone with a bike might enjoy a bus ride.

London-wasn't one of the points transferrable and ergo storable energy?

Job interviews-Bring change

Living in a tropical paradise-suck it up

 

[Abedeus]

Wait, wait.

A solar-energy powered bike, which then can be used to pay the bus fee?

Wouldn't be better to turn this baby into a motorbike and use the energy to make wheels turn faster?

 

[OddOzZy666]

Pfft, bikes are getting old, I DEMAND A GYROCYCLE!!

 

[Sevre]

I want one, any idea on the price though?

 

[Khryon]

That'd be one awesome bike, though - why bus when you can bike?

 

[arkwright]

nice idea but solar powered bikes in london, great a power source you can use 3 to 4 weeks a year.

 

[johnman]

You power the bus? So what happens if your the only one on the bus, does it just stopped and your forced to wait for more bikers.

 

[XJ-0461]

Looks very nice. Seems easy to store, too. I might get one of these when they become available.

 

[Monocle Man]

You pedal, you charge, you use that charge to power the bus. Correct?
I'm quite sure they'll end up as rental bikes for in the city which isn't bad, of course. They're quite popular in Belgium so a more advanced system should work too, perhaps even better.

If they want to sell them to people they would need to change it to
you pedal, you charge, you no longer have to pedal (that much).

 

[InProgress]

That Bike looks just awesome. I like the fact that it's very minimalistic and has a clean look.

The idea about selling energy to power the bus is a good in theory, but will probably be bad in practise, as someone will develop some sort of adaptors for charging big batteries you keep at home, and the busses will end up without energy.

 

[Pigeon_Grenade]

that sounds like a remarkable idea

 

[Ashbax]

IMBA.

 

[SevenStarSonata]

London-wasn't one of the points transferrable and ergo storable energy?

Job interviews-Bring change

Living in a tropical paradise-suck it up

=/ You know, you're awfully set on defending your position in the shortest and rudest manner possible.

Yes, the point it transferrable and storable energy, but if you've ever had any sort of solar-powered ANYTHING you'll understand that that energy isn't infinitely storable. It will go away if not used for a while, and then it's nice to have a back-up like pedaling. It is also useful for people who work the nightshift. The concept is still the same, but instead of the solar panels providing the energy to the bike, it's the pedals, acting like a generator. You still provide power to the bikes, still get your fare, and everyone is happy.

Yes, job interviews "bring change", and your point is? Oh, wait, I know what your point is..your point is that you were presented with a valid reason one could not dress for the weather and might prefer to ride a bus instead of bike, and you had no valid counterpoint to that.

There is merit to this idea, so "suck it up".

 

[Mullahgrrl]

Job interviews-Bring change

Yes, job interviews "bring change", and your point is? Oh, wait, I know what your point is..your point is that you were presented with a valid reason one could not dress for the weather and might prefer to ride a bus instead of bike, and you had no valid counterpoint to that.

It wasn't a description, it was advice.

Bring change of clothes and you can dress any old how on the bike.