Urban Transport
Ingenious fold-up Swissbike
Despite the obvious advantages of having a bicycle which can be folded for ease of transportation or storage, a compromise in performance compared with conventional bikes is inherent in many existing designs - usually due to smaller wheel sizes, less than ideal seating positions and structural instability. Although we've uncovered some outstanding examples of innovative, lightweight collapsible bikes over the years, only a select few have offered a combination of full-size performance and fold-up convenience. Joining this group is the SwissBike, a civilian spin-off of a platform first developed for use in military transport and parachute airdrop by Massachusetts based bicycle manufacturer Montague Corporation. The range is headed-up by the flagship SwissBike XO - a full size mountain bike with 26” wheels that folds down to a 36" x 28" x 12" size in under 30 seconds via a quick-release system that doesn't require tools. (read more...)
Svepa city bike
The Svepa bike design employs a frame made from an intelligent combination of plywood and aluminum to create an elegant, practical and eye-catching city bicycle built for two. (read more...)
Shape-shifting bicycles to redefine the urban commute
May 5, 2008 Shape shifting designs that provide convenient portability and storage options and push the boundaries of people’s accepted ideas of the bike came to the fore at the recent International Bicycle Design Competition (IBDC). The standout example was the third placed the Everglide concept, an innovative multi-purpose design that integrates a bicycle with a backpack. (read more...)
The Optibike OB1 electric bicycle: exclusive, long range, power assisted commuting
April 24, 2008 Optibike's 2008 range of electric-powered bicycles will be spearheaded by the limited edition OB1, the signature bike of Optibike Inventor Jim Turner. The key component of the Optibike system - the patented Motorized Bottom Bracket (MBB) which drives through the derauiller gear system to optimize acceleration and range at all pedaling speeds - is now oil cooled and delivers 850 continuous watts of power. Add to this carbon fiber handlebars, brakes, derailleur, chainring and cable ferrules, a customized paint job, GPS satellite navigation, plus a wireless PDA interface that provides real-time feedback on remaining range, battery charge and motor temperatures, and you have yourself one high-performance urban commuter. (read more...)
The Magic Wheel: the penny farthing of skateboards?
April 18, 2008 If you've ever dreamed of sailing down the footpath on a seatless unicycle with no pedals - and lord knows I have - you too will wonder why it took so long for the Magic Wheel to go into production. Thankfully, for ergonomic reasons, they've removed the seat post too. (read more...)
Sunny Day: fold-up solar-electric bicycle concept
April 17, 2008 Featuring an adjustable streamlined solar panel on the front stem, the Sunny Day compact solar electric bicycle design by Larry Chen recently took out the Grand Prize in the 12th annual International Bicycle Design Competition. (read more...)
Amphibious Bicycle Concept
April 13, 2008 One of the more interesting finalists in the 12th International Bicycle Design Competition was this amphibious bicycle. The Amphibian Bike concept is the work of Chinese designers Bin Yu and Jian Wang, and in our book, is probably the design with the greatest potential for humanity among the strong field. The big difference with this bike compared to all the other amphibious bicycle designs we have seen is that it can be used as an ordinary bicycle on land. When used on water using the inflatable wheels which fit inside the existing wheels are inflated. The Shuttle Bike is still the best amphibious bike we have seen, though the weight overhead when on land is significant. (read more...)
The Fietscafe/Pedalpub – pedal-powered party
The concept of a mobile pedal-powered pub began in Holland and now appears to be spreading, with franchises now appearing in America. It’s an ideal pub crawl conveyance, instant parade float, tailgating venue and all-purpose group activity. (read more...)
Snowboarding on the pavement: the T-Board
March 27, 2008 Rotating casterboards like Razor's RipStik and the Essboard are fairly well established as hyper-manoeverable alternatives to the skateboard, letting riders fishtail their way around and even climb hills without putting a foot down. Tierney Rides are now offering a totally flat casterboard with two fully rotating caster wheels - and the company claims its carving T-Board is the closest experience you can get to snowboarding on pavement. (read more...)
Battery-free bicycle lighting
March 21, 2008 In the pecking order of road users, bicycle riders are at the very bottom – the most vulnerable, slowest moving, least visible and most likely to die. So anything you can do to add to your visibility will help, and these new battery-free Pedalites offer 360 degree visibility. (read more...)
Genius rear shock bike control system
February 29, 2008 The Genius range of mountain bikes from Scott were designed with a variety of riding levels in mind, from crossing the Alps to a leisurely tour with friends. One of the standout features of the bikes is an adjustable rear shock system that is easily operated via handle bar levers. (read more...)
Safe Turn: the fully-automatic indicator for cyclists
January 22, 2008 Environmental and health factors have been a catalyst for increased numbers of cyclists in metropolitan cities with bike sales exceeding that of cars in places like Australia in recent times. With more recreational and commuter cyclists sharing the roads with automobiles it follows that rider safety - and technology that enhances it - is more important than ever. The Safe Turn Indicator is a compact (40 mm/1.6 in) and lightweight (19g/0.67oz) bicycle light indicator designed to fit your glove or wrist that consists of three LEDs which flash in a similar fashion to a vehicle or motorbike indicator and emit the same orange light. Using an internal tilt switch to pick-up the change in angle rather than motion-detection, the product differentiates itself from other indicators on the market by virtue of its ability to automatically switch on when an arm is raised to execute a normal hand signal for turning and remain flashing until the arm drops back down. (read more...)
Uniquely designed STRIDA folding bicycle collapses in six seconds
Portabilty, comfort, performance and strength - these are the key factors that come into consideration when delving into the world of folding bicycles. Using a unique design described as the "first completely new bicycle geometry in 95 years", the STRIDA folding bicycle appears to deliver on all counts. The STRIDA consists of a light-weight aluminum triangular frame that folds into a compact, stowable form in just six seconds with power transfer to the rear wheels via a silent, clean Kevlar belt, meaning low maintenance and no grease on your business attire when you arrive at the office. (read more...)
Easyglider adds electric drive to your rollerblades or skateboard
December 4, 2007 Around the world, dozens of small businesses are springing up and flourishing based on innovative, compact urban transport inventions that speed up the short commute while at the same time injecting a healthy dose of fun. The skateboard has evolved into electric powered versions as well as the twisting casterboard concept, mini-scooters are going electric and developing at a rapid rate, and next-gen mobility platforms like the Segway are changing the way people think about short-range transport. Now there's the easyglider, an external electric drive wheel that lets you zip yourself along at up to 20kmh on your rollerblades, skateboard, or a connected wheeled platform. (read more...)
Metroboard electric skateboard carves the pavement at 15mph
November 15, 2007 The electric skateboard is a bit of an oddity – it’s a logical step forward from a technology point of view, it’s a high-efficiency mode of transport, handy for short commutes, quiet, light, storable and probably quite a bit of fun. The latest to come to our attention is the Metroboard - capable of 15mph (26kmh) and controlled by a nifty infra-red handheld remote control, it’s one of the lightest units on the market. (read more...)
Electrobike Pi: your pedal power gets an electric boost
Electric/pedal power hybrid bicycles make a lot of sense as commuters. With a small amount of battery power to augment your pedaling efforts, you can achieve extra speed and distance while leaving a minimal environmental footprint and paying next to nothing per kilometer. The Electrobike Pi is a fine example of the state of the art: packed with nifty technology in a design marked by its distinctive arch frame, the Pi is speed limited to 20 mph when powered by the 36V/500 watt electric motor alone - slotting neatly under the maximum power and speed figures allowable in California without a motorcycle license - and you can travel around 25 miles without troubling the pedals. (read more...)
The Matra MS1 “Human Electric Hybrid Motorcycle”
Matra Manufacturing & Services (Matra MS) has turned its attention to the production of Light Electric Vehicles with the latest offering from a company renowned for its past achievements in the automotive design arena – including a stint in Formula One in which it won a world title along with wins in the Le Mans 24 hour race - being the MS1, a “Human Electric Hybrid Motorcycle” shown recently in Paris that is expected to hit the market in the spring of 2008. Powered by a 1kW Motor Wheel, the MS1 has its maximum speed limited to 28mph (45 kmh) in electric mode and can travel up to 62 miles (100 km) - depending on type of battery - on purely electric power… and if you run out of juice there is always the ever-reliable pedal-option. (read more...)
Climb aboard the next-generation of personal transport: we ride Toyota’s I-REAL
Gizmag leapt at the opportunity to take Toyota’s I-REAL personal mobility concept for a spin at the Tokyo Motor Show yesterday. “The seating position was remarkably comfortable and the joystick controls fell to hand immediately. Handling was surprisingly intuitive – when compared to other personal mobility devices such as the Segway, which is itself by no means difficult to master, the I-REAL was a breeze to pilot”, said Gizmag’s Mike Hanlon of his first impressions of the I-REAL. "Simply, it’s quiet, it’s very easy to use - it can be used at strolling pace and you can travel alongside somebody who’s walking very slowly and hold a conversation with them very easily, but when given full throttle it can sprint away much faster than a human being can hope to hit full pace running". Check out the I-REAL in this video. (read more...)
MotorBoard 2000XR: next generation electric scooter
Continuing its quest to take motorized scooters out of the realm of toys and into the arena of genuine, eco-friendly, urban transportation for adults, Roth Motor Company has released the much anticipated upgrade to their fully portable 2000X MotorBoard. The new 2000XR motorized scooter retains a safety-limited speed of 15mph but boasts improved torque, range and hill climbing capabilities over its predecessor. Since the range began in 2002 with the release of the 1500X, the power has been doubled while the weight has been reduced with the latest model now capable of carrying an average sized rider (up to 250 lbs.) between 4-7 miles on a single charge. (read more...)
Toyota’s i-REAL personal mobility concept nears commercialization
October 11, 2007 One of the most exciting transportation developments in recent years has been the ongoing series of Personal Mobility devices we have seen from Toyota. It began with the PM (Personal Mobility) Concept, and was followed by the i-unit and i-swing concepts, and we have watched these developments with the parallel exploration of mobility, partner and guide robots, as the company has surged to become the world’s largest automotive manufacturer. Now the next installment in this exciting personal mobility series is here, with the promise of commercialization drawing tantalizingly close. And it looks like it "carves", meaning it tilts into a corner in the same way a motorcycle does! (read more...)
Cannondale's Quantum Leap in bicycle design: the ON concept
Early forms of the bicycle emerged as early as 1791 when one Monsieur de Sirvac is said to have added a second wheel to a child's hobbyhorse. The “draisienne” – which was propelled by riders pushing their feet on the ground - was invented in Germany around 25 years later and the basic design platform we recognize today took shape at the end of the 1800’s with the addition of pneumatic tyres, derailleur gears and hand-operated cable-pull brakes, but if this radical prototype from urban solutions company Cannondale is any indication, the continuing evolution of the bicycle as we move into the 21st century might yield some very surprising results. (read more...)
iSlide: Segway meets skateboard in radical urban transport concept
These days the term skateboard tends to refer to a whole raft of different transport modes that go way beyond the two-axle, four wheeled conveyances that rose to prominence in the 1970s – everything from in-line caster boards to spokeless mini-motorcycles and sit-down street machines tend to be categorized under the genre. Just when you thought it was safe to go back to the ramp, a new concept has emerged that could see self-balancing technology and electric propulsion incorporated into the skateboard design. The iSlide concept by industrial designer Ofir Tal is a one wheel motorized board that utilizes a hydrogen fuel cell and onboard gyroscope to attain speeds of around 15 kph. (read more...)
Garmin Edge's new killer apps for cyclists – wireless route sharing and SRM power compatibility
August 30, 2007 The humble cycling computer is fast approaching the realms of scifi in its ability to deliver real-time critical information to the cyclist and Garmin’s announcement today of the Edge 705 and Edge 605 deliver … well, short of blood testing, everything we can think of. The range-topping 705 is an integrated personal training system with a 2.2” colour display providing mapping capabilities, street navigation and it tracks vertical profiles, climb and descent, altitude, speed, distance, time, cadence and heart rate. But wait, this is the clincher – through collaborative efforts with SRM, it will also monitor power output on the same display. Not satisfied yet? The 705 also enables users to share their information – including courses, waypoints and workouts – with other users through ANT+Sport wireless technology. (read more...)
iZip Express electric bicycle amplifies your pedalling effort
August 22, 2007 Cycling devotees with huge thighs and shiny, rippling calves keep telling us that the pushbike is a fantastic way to get around town – but heaving and puffing up hills and into headwinds can be a discouraging proposition for those of us who aren’t such gods of physical perfection. Enter the iZip Express from Currie Technologies – a hybrid electric bicycle that uses a small motor to amplify your puny pedalling efforts into an output Lance Armstrong would be proud of. It’s a great idea - clean, green, and you still get some exercise out of riding it, but for a given amount of effort you go further and faster than on a normal bicycle. (read more...)
Yamaha’s iPod ready compact electric motorcycle
August 17, 2007 Yamaha first unveiled the EC-02 electric motorcycle as part of a range of sustainable machines in 2005. Not wanting to be left behind in the age of the ubiquitous personal music player, the latest incarnation of the short-range commuter features a tank mounted iPod dock. (read more...)
