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openforum.com - Word of mouth is now word of "mouse." So says Chip Conley, the CEO of Joie de Vivre Hospitality.
26 Comments
- SBolivar, on 06/15/2009, -1/+5This is a perfect, low-cost solution to our transportation needs in many places. With bikes that could easily push people up hills using cleaner electric power, I feel confident many more people would use them. To maintain and administer the bikes, this would also mean some job creation (granted pretty limited though). I hope this concept becomes reality in a lot of communities.
- jerryjamesstone, on 06/15/2009, -0/+4I would totally use this! And it kinda looks like a banana.
- winguero, on 06/15/2009, -0/+3Linking these to the rain systems would be amazing, but seeing as you most other public transport in the Bay Area is inefficient and unlinked, it's hard to see how this would happen. Super cool idea though...
- stachesnmullets, on 06/15/2009, -1/+4Gotta love those hyphy 5 spoke wheels.
- theblueprint, on 06/15/2009, -0/+2The perfect, low-cost solution already exists: they're called bicycles.
Cities need to invest in better bicycle infastructure, and they need to create incentives to make their streets more bike-friendly. Millions of people already own non-electric bicycles, and investments would show a more immediate impact and not rely on the notoriously fickle American consumer to embrace new tech.
By improving overall bicycle infrastructure, cities could serve their residents now, and have the facilities to serve electric bicycles should they become popular. - jerryjamesstone, on 06/15/2009, -0/+2But I don't have your phone number...
- billricardi, on 06/15/2009, -0/+2They're available in dozens of countries:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Community_bicycle_pro ...
The only question is, why haven't they pinned down the economic model that they want to use? There's no doubt at all it can be done. HOW will it be done? - jasdf, on 06/15/2009, -0/+1Because they probably cost $2,000+ each.
- askantik, on 06/15/2009, -0/+1I don't know that you'd want to go 36mph on a bicycle, but I have toyed with using an old trolling motor and one or 2 lead-acid batteries (deep cycle marine-- not the most awesome batteries, but not too expensive) to power it. The bike would be heavy because of the batteries, but would ideally still be able push itself. But I'm no engineer, so I still have the parts laying around and that's it :)
- askantik, on 06/15/2009, -0/+1A lot of them never make it to production because half of the people that seem them are just like you-- they bitch and moan about not having ***** like this, but then they piss on anything that isn't already in fruition. Don't you ever wonder HOW things like this become reality? Hint: if everyone was like you and said, "Call me when you're done," then they'd never show up. It takes financial commitment from those who have it and moral support and spreading the word from those who don't. Not saying we should blindly support every single concept we see on teh Internets, but the ones that seem realistic and have a solid chance, we should embrace. Scientists and engineers can only do so much-- the public has to want these things, no matter how awesome "they" make them.
- jamiecarter, on 06/15/2009, -0/+1Alot of investment by the cities! Hardly eco and instantly life changing..
Why don't they just make it so that when you pedal it charges up and then if you get tired you can use the electric side to get you the rest of the journey? - billricardi, on 06/15/2009, -0/+1This all comes down to economics... and there isn't a word of how that would work in the article. Subscription like in Canada? Advertising like Barcelona and Paris? Linked to rail systems like in Germany?
Its all well and good to say 'look what we could do!', but without an economic model, ANYONE can say that. - jasdf, on 06/15/2009, -0/+1I have been kicking around the idea of putting a small nitromethane engine on a bike. You can buy small engines for ~$130 that put out 3.3hp @ 13,000 RPM. Pair that with a 100:1 harmonic drive and connect it to the crank for 130RPM. I did the math and you could do ~36MPH in high gear on my current 26" bike. I don't know how long the chain and sprockets would last though with 3.3hp going through them.
- jbcsee, on 06/15/2009, -0/+1The other day someone passed me on a similar setup, I was just pulling out of the office driveway and he was crusing down the road at ~30mph on his electric bike. I was on my beater road bike which I use for commuting.
Well we both made a left and had to climb a really steep overpass. Since he was inexperienced he used the cross walk (I got in the left hand turn lane with the cars) and I got a nice head start, I didn't think I would see him again which is the case with most other cyclists I leave behind.
Well as I'm grunting up the last little bit of the overpass he comes flying by me at about 25mph. My pride then kicked in, I caught up with him by the bottom of the overpass. I just got in my big gear and was able to grind it out for the two miles before I had to turn off, needless to say I proved his motorized bike could not keep up with someone just pedaling.
My point is, stop being lazy and just pedal, it's good for you! Besides it's just as fast as a motorized bike! - jasdf, on 06/16/2009, -0/+1The biggest problem is being a sweaty mess when you arrive at your destination. You end up wasting a lot of time between the slower pace of riding vs driving and additional shower time. But, you'll save a lot of money in the long run.
- seanmc303, on 06/15/2009, -0/+1There was a girl in my home town known as the village bicycle. I wonder if this bicycle will this put her out of business?
- catbeller, on 06/17/2009, -0/+1Not everyone is 25 years old. :)
- xutopia, on 06/16/2009, -0/+1Actually there aren't any plug-in electric bicycle sharing program anywhere in the world. There are community bicycle programs in place though.
- jasdf, on 06/15/2009, -0/+1Here is the engine: http://www.philshobbyshop.com/tek9.asp?pg=products ...
Here is the harmonic drive: http://www.motioncontrol.com/products/index.cfm/Ha ...
The only problem is that the engine runs on nitromethane which is much more expensive than gasoline. Ideally I would use a small two-stroke engine, but having a tiny nitro motor that puts out 3.3hp would sound awesome (and smaller between the legs). - askantik, on 06/15/2009, -0/+1That'd be see* them.
- sleestakslayer, on 06/15/2009, -0/+0Can you provide a link to the engine you are talking about? Are these like the little RC engines?
- cosmiccarl, on 06/15/2009, -1/+1The new name is cyKILL as in what will happen if you ride a bike to work. It is very dangerous to share the road with megaSUV trucks and buses.
- xutopia, on 06/15/2009, -1/+1keyword: CONCEPT.
Why are all these awesome, lighter than air, cheaper than gas, faster than light eco-technologies always at the conceptual or prototype stage? Call me when they're available. - amorrise, on 06/15/2009, -3/+3This ain't your grandma's bike.
- TheScotsman1980, on 06/15/2009, -1/+1I always wanted a bike like the one in Akira, and this, sadly, ain't it.
- askantik, on 06/15/2009, -1/+1If it's so simple (as you say) then you can make one and I'll buy it. Everyone always says why don't "they" do this or that...
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