BIKE INTERMODAL - THE INTERMODAL BIKE - Multi-modal integration of cycling mobility through product and process innovations in bicycle design
Overview
Background & policy context:
This project dealt with the possible synergy of the bicycle and other forms of transport (public and private), for some sort of seamless individual urban transport, as an alternative to the car. The idea has been circulating at least from the seventies, and is gaining popularity in recent years. However, the current bicycle technology is unable to deliver this 'vision'. The currently weight and dimensions of bicycles have not improved over the past thirty years and have remained roughly 12-14 kg and over 100 litres in volume.
Due to their volume, the current 'suitcase size' bicycles are not attractive to public transport operators. Especially if many passengers were to carry one aboard. A 'briefcase size' bicycle would be much more acceptable.
Objectives:
The BIKE INTERMODAL project set out to challenge this. It aims to reduce weight and volume significantly. Thus making 'intermodal bicycling' more attractive. The project objective is to provide (by means of product and process innovations) a lightweight and small folding bicycle. Thus making it practical to carry along a bicycle aboard public transport.
The ultimate goal is integration of public transport and cycling, expanding the share of both modalities in urban mobility. Bicycling, which is efficient over short distances but not on longer distances, could be re-introduced into daily travel adding to a cost-effective modal mix.
The project aims at providing a solution for developing a production-ready new folding bicycle, based on an innovative concept already tested on mock-ups and working models. The advantage is an unprecedented compactness (factor 6 over common folding models) and low weight (factor 3) obtained combining a collapsible, pre-tensioned space-frame with a modern industrial process centred on the use of contemporary engineering plastics.
Methodology:
The crucial innovation of the project was a completely original, new way of making a hinged bicycle frame which combines: light weight (due to a precise allocation of material), strength (through a pre-tensioned space-frame), high compactness when folded down (by means of members that adapt to one another) and automatic opening-closing.
In order to obtain significant improvement, a new 'bicycle-design method' had to be put in place, due to the often conflicting requirements of production, ergonomics, power-transfer, solidity, street regulations and aspects like tyres, brakes, suspension.
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