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Water Bed: Tow an Amphibious Mobile Shelter Behind Your Bike

27 Nov

[ By WebUrbanist in Boutique & Art Hotels & Travel. ]

mobile water bed

Combining the cheap convenience of a hostel with the outdoor access of a tent, this wheeled micro-dwelling can be carted behind a bicycle then lowered into the water for a night of floating fun.

wheeled bike nomadic

bike bed trail

Created by Royal College of Art (RCA) graduate Daniel Durnin, the shelter features a watertight bottom, canvass walls and operable wood-framed fenestration for viewing and circulation.

water bed on wheels

water bed nomadic

The tent-on-the-water approach renders urban lakes, rivers and streams suddenly more accessible, creating alternative campgrounds that take up no space on land. It is designed with city’s like Durnin’s own (London) in mind, places where waterways are more prevalent than unused grounds.

water tent floating

bike bed in water

“I hope that the work will reawaken our connection with nature using the waterways as a catalyst and restore balance to the more networked living space that we now inhabit, not just in London but across the globe,” says Durnin.

[ By WebUrbanist in Boutique & Art Hotels & Travel. ]

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The Modern Cyclist: 17 Minimalist Designer Bike Accessories

01 Jun

[ By Steph in Design & Products & Packaging. ]

designer cycling vadolibero shelf

A lot of stuff made for cyclists, from rain gear to storage solutions at home, is just plain ugly. If you’re a discerning bike commuter with an eye for good design, you’ll appreciate these 17 stylish accessories that don’t sacrifice form for function, adding to a bike’s practicality in an aesthetically pleasing way.

Vadolibero Bike Butler + Shelf

designer cycling vado shelf 3

designer cycling vado shelf 4

Store your bike in style with Vadolibero’s two multifunctional stands. The Bike Butler is billed as “an urban-chic version of the most efficient biker wall-pocket,” with slide-out trays, drawers, a space for keys and sunglasses and a couple hooks. Keep it in the hallway as a means of organizing the small items you normally throw on a table, and corral your bike at the same time. The Bike Shelf is essentially a stage for your bike, putting it on display with lights and everything, but it’s also a functional wardrobe packed with storage space.

Six Smart Cycling Accessories by ECAL

modern cycling ecal 1

modern cycling ecal 2

modern cycling ecal 3

modern cycling ecal 4

modern cycling ecal 5

modern cycling ecal 6

Students at Swiss art and design school ECAL came up with a line of clever biking accessories called ‘Savoir-Faire’ for Milan Design Week 2013. These detachable accessories and modifications either combine several functions in a single object, like the brake/horn on the handlebar, or add extra functions to make a bike more adaptable for everyday use, like snow chains and bottle carriers.

Sleek & Simple Cup Holder

designer cycling bookman cup holder

designer cycling bookman cup holder 2

This minimalist cup holder will help you tote your coffee across town, and consists of no more than two rings and a steel spring, requiring no screws or glue to hold it together. Flip the cup holder over to hold drinks of varying sizes.

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The Modern Cyclist 17 Minimalist Designer Bike Accessories

[ By Steph in Design & Products & Packaging. ]

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Invisible Bicycles: Tokyo’s High-Tech Underground Bike Parking

26 Mar

[ By WebUrbanist in Technology & Vehicles & Mods. ]

undergound bike copy

Sufficiently advanced science has been said to look like magic, like this subterranean cycle storage system – except in this case images and videos give you a peak at the secret workings below the surface.

amazing bike parking

On the space-starved streets of Tokyo, every bit of spare square footage counts, making the city’s investment in this complex-seeming solution a sensible way to tackle bike storage and theft.

underground bike storage system

underground bike parking system

Users simply walk their bike up, input a card or code, and let the machinery do the rest. The bikes are then taken underground, sorted and stored in a cylindrical shaft until needed, then available at a moment’s notice – bikers can be back on their rides faster than a valet at a fancy hotel could bring a car around.

underground car park variant

The Eco Cycle Anti-Seismic Underground Bicycle Park was designed and built by the engineers of Giken Seisakusho and can store up to 800 bicycles at a time. Its creators have also developed similar system designs that would work the same way but with cars.

underground japanese bicycle park

underground cycle storage solution

The real wonder is not that it already exists in Japan, however, but that it has not been imported to other countries. There could be issues with water tables in certain cities, but the solution could also potentially be adapted to spaces like abandoned subway stations that already exist in others.

[ By WebUrbanist in Technology & Vehicles & Mods. ]

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Abandoned Mine is Now World’s Largest Indoor BMX Bike Park

11 Feb

[ By WebUrbanist in Abandoned Places & Architecture. ]

underground bmx bike park

Boasting 5 miles of trails, ramps and obstacles, this cavernous subterranean space sits 100 feet underground and totals 320,000 square feet. The wide-open footprint and copious mounds of dirt, able to be endlessly reformed into new types of terrain, lend themselves to this particularly fitting form of adaptive reuse.

underground converted limestone mine copy

Located in Louisville, Kentucky, and open as of yesterday, the Mega Underground Bike Park gains a number of advantages from being far below the surface, including a relatively consistent temperature and protection from wind, rain and other weather (without the typical costs of constructing a building to house these activities).

underground bike park ramps

Originally a limestone mine, there were plans to create a highs-security business park in the space – while there are a few businesses actually occupying other parts of the underground complex of caves, the big idea fell through, replaced by a plan to create zip lines, challenge courses and now the biggest interior bike park on the planet.

Currently the space offers 45 trails with differing degrees of of difficulty as well as clever additions like cargo containers turned into ramps and overpasses. Most of the materials needed, though, were already in place – it was mainly a matter of lighting, accessing and shaping the space.

underground dirt ramp caves

From their website: “Are you ready to experience a one of a kind Underground Bike Park? Over 320,000 square feet including over 45 trails, Jump Lines, Pump Tracks, Dual Slalom, BMX, Cross Country and Single Track all in a former limestone cavern 100 feet sub-surface. Enjoy the comfort of our 60 degree temperature year round. Come experience what the buzz is all about. You simply won’t believe what you see.”

[ By WebUrbanist in Abandoned Places & Architecture. ]

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Freezeways: Using Bike Paths as Winter Ice Skating Corridors

11 Feb

[ By WebUrbanist in Architecture & Cities & Urbanism. ]

freezeway design concept drawing

Proposed by a landscape architect from Edmonton, Alberta, this 7-mile urban project may not be as far fetched as it first sounds – in many regards it is simply a linear extension of an ice skating rink or more pragmatic variant of for-fun skateways found in Holland and Russia.

freezeway bike path summer

freezeway design concept drawings

For the many cities in the United States, Canada, Northern Europe and elsewhere that are only warm (and thawed) enough for comfortable biking half of the year, designs like The Freezeway by Matt Gibbs could provide a means to modify extant bike pathways to get exercise, have fun and commute to work during colder months. The process is not as simple as pouring ice on existing paths – issues of grade, embankments and connections would need to be addressed – but the concept is gaining momentum and these problems all have solutions.

freezeway winter commuting skaters

The idea has local appeal for places like its architect’s hometown, which is ice cold for much of the year and dark to boot, providing an excuse to get outdoors as well as a way to move about the city. It also has potential international appeal as a tourist attraction and urban icon akin to the High Line in New York, Garden Bridge coming to London, Sea Wall in Vancouver and other one-of-a-kind landscape projects around the world.

freezeway winter ice path

More details from the designer: “By shovelling a mapped out route, the space between snow banks could be flooded, perhaps by a fire hydrant at first (though it’s not ideal), creating a web of trails to explore on skates, requiring minimal expenditure …. This space could eventually be animated by lights and music. If popular, it could incrementally expanded every year.”

freezeway urban skate path

More on the advantages for and beyond commuting: “This project is not meant to be a tax payer’s burden. The Freezeway is meant upgrade city infrastructure for a multitude of uses, potentially doing wonders for the redeveloping City’s core, our international reputation, as well as attract investment into the City. The proposed route exists entirely on existing City infrastructure; the land is already secured. The numerous character areas along the route could be developed in phases, lending themselves well to private funding/sponsorship, like Calgary’s GlobalFest, or Vancouver’s Festival of Light fireworks shows, funded by donations of over 1 million dollars annually. The design team is currently exploring numbers.”

[ By WebUrbanist in Architecture & Cities & Urbanism. ]

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London Approves Europe’s First City-Spanning Bike Superhighway

04 Feb

[ By WebUrbanist in Architecture & Cities & Urbanism. ]

london transit

Catering to some of the 170,000 cyclists that ride across London every day, this segregated bicycle lane will stretch from west to east, pass through the heart of the city and span 18 miles when completed. Approved by mayor Boris Johnson, a second route will also eventually span perpendicular to this first one, reaching south to north and crossing the first in the middle of the city.

london separated bicycle pathway

Allocating bikers lane space on par with that given to cars and separated by safety curbs, this plan represents a huge shift in how London treats cyclists and the largest such endeavor of its kind to date. Few long bike paths on the planet can boast such separation for bikers from city traffic, a move that makes bike lanes much more accessible to bikers of all ages and abilities.

london dedicated bike paths

As The Guardian‘s Peter Walker describes, “The effect is humanizing, civilizing, relaxing, enchanting. It makes the city immediately more appealing. Beyond all that it also rebuts the perennial complaint that the push for London bike routes is the niche hobby horse of a small coterie of middle-class, male cyclists. The whole point is that if you create safer cycling you necessarily create more inclusive cycling.”

bike path lanes

Building on a series original-but-modified proposals shown directly above and below, the new path with pass along the Victoria Embankment to connect Tower Hill and Paddington, re-purposing existing lanes used by motorists and linking up with a north-south route that would connect King’s Cross with Elephant and Castle.

bike path city

While the removal of motorized vehicular space has drawn complaints from some, it fits London’s larger vision of reducing car traffic in and through the city (dovetailing with existing strategies including a hefty congestion tax).

bike path urban

Other cities will be looking to the results of this radical change, which could have significant global influence on urban design strategies around city cycling for years and decades to come.

[ By WebUrbanist in Architecture & Cities & Urbanism. ]

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H2O to Go: Bike Bottle Makes Water from Thin Air as You Cycle

17 Nov

[ By WebUrbanist in Conceptual & Futuristic & Technology. ]

water bottle in situ

Using air flow and solar energy, this ingenious device creates up to 16 ounces (a half-liter) per hour of drinkable water via condensation as you ride, quenching your thirst just when and where you need it most: while cycling hard in hot and humid climates.

fontus bottle

water bottle explanatory diagram

Austrian designer Kristof Retezár has submitted his work on this self-filling water bottle (dubbed Fontus) for award consideration to the James Dyson Foundation. His prototype and proposal cite potential benefits both to athletes but also more broadly to regions where obtaining potable water can be difficult (in many cases, these are also places where many travel by bicycle).

fontus water bottle design

water bottle humidity graph

The gadget itself attaches to the frames of bicycles and contains a slot where a standard-sized disposable water bottle can be attached, filled and detached when needed. Retezár experimented with various materials, systems and processes to make a working prototype in his own bathroom, testing under various temperatures and humidity conditions.

water bottle experimental stage

water bottle from air

How does it work? “Basically, condensation occurs when you cool air to its saturation point. Fontus has a small internal cooler that is divided into two halves. A solar panel provides energy to cool the upper half of the condenser, a process that heats the lower half. When air flows past the heated lower half, it makes the top cool even further. Air moving through the chambers is slowed and cooled to condense moisture, which drips down into the bottle.”

water bottle form design

water bottle design prototype

For now, it is a work in progress – whether this design hits mass-production without kinks or complications remains to be seen. The inspiration: “According to UN statistics, More than 2 billion people in more than 40 countries live in regions with water scarcity. In 2030, 47% of the world´s population will be living in areas of high water stress. Water scarcity may be the most underestimated resource issue facing the world today. Every measure to ease this upcoming crisis is a welcome one.”

water bottle modeling process

air condensed water bottle

“Harvesting water from the air is a method that has been practised for more than 2000 years in certain cultures mostly in Asia and Central America. The Earth’s atmosphere contains around 13.000 km3 of mostly unexploited freshwater. This project is an attempt to discover these resources. My goal was to create a small, compact and self-sufficient device able to absorb humid air, separate water molecules from air molecules and store water in liquid form in a bottle.”

[ By WebUrbanist in Conceptual & Futuristic & Technology. ]

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Bike in a Backpack Folds Up Tiny & Weighs Just 11 Pounds

15 Nov

[ By Steph in Technology & Vehicles & Mods. ]

bike in a backpack 1

Dubbed ‘Impossible’ for its ability to pull off the seemingly unreachable goal of folding down so tiny it can fit inside a backpack, this electric bicycle can be carried virtually anywhere. The design is based around circles instead of a single horizontal girder to spread weight equally across the frame. While there are plenty of folding bike designs, few of them are quite as small and lightweight as the Impossible, which weighs in at less than 11 pounds.

bike in a backpack 2

The seat and handlebars are set at similar heights so the front and rear wheels do equal work to bear the weight of the rider. Nearly the entire bike is made of carbon fiber to keep the weight as low as it can be, with a steel connecting box in the center of the frame ensuring that it’s strong enough to withstand everyday use and carry a rider weighing up to 180 pounds.

bike in a backpack 4

bike in a backpack 5

bike in a backpack 3

bike in a backpack 6

The riding saddle doubles as the carrying case, keeping the electric charger clean, dry and ready for use. The bike will ultimately be up to 60% customizable with options like colored removable covers. Folding and unfolding the Impossible is achieved in four simple steps. The bike features ten 3.6V batteries and a DC motor enabling it to travel up to 12.4 mph for 45 minutes, or at normal speed for up to 15.6 miles per charge. No pedaling necessary – the bike does all the work.

bike in a backpack 7

Beijing-based Impossible Technology is currently raising funds for the project on Kickstarter, with backers pledging $ 430 CAD or more receiving an all-white Impossible bike from the first production run. Additional designs and accessories will be available in the future.

[ By Steph in Technology & Vehicles & Mods. ]

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Starry Night: Glow-in-the-Dark Bike Path Inspired by Van Gogh

14 Nov

[ By WebUrbanist in Technology & Vehicles & Mods. ]

night cycling visibility green

Opening last night in Nuenen, Holland, this illuminated cycling surface is free to the public, storing sunlight during the day to create stellar patterns to guide riders after dark. First of its kind on the planet, the swirling shapes of this path are recognizably inspired by one of Vincent van Gogh’s most famous paintings.

night path now open

night cycling path glowing

Developed by Dutch artist and innovator Daan Roosegaarde in conjunction with infrastructure specialists from Heijmans, this pathway is a potential prototype for future cycling paths using smart paint technologies as well as an extension of an ongoing series of glow-in-the-dark highway projects and other urban improvement proposals in the works around the world.

night path standing view

night cycling rider shot

Part practical lighting scheme and part installation art project, the path is located along a stretch of a bicycling route passing through Noord Brabant, the region from which van Gogh originated, which in turn connects various notable sites from his personal life and work. Its creator explains: “I wanted to create a place that people will experience in a special way, the technical combined with experience – that’s what techno-poetry means to me.”

night cycling image large

night path holland biking

night biking path lights

The semi-abstract pixelated swirls are a high-tech reference to Starry Night, painted in 1889 and depicting an idealized view from the east-facing window of the painter’s asylum room at Saint-Rémy-de-Provence (now part of the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York City).

night cycling aerial view

starry night inspired path

night cycling path image

night path cyclist picture

Studio Roosegaarde is known for “tactile high-tech environments in which viewer and space become one. This connection, established between ideology and technology, results in what Roosegaarde calls ‘techno-poetry’. His often interactive work connects people with art and people with people.”

[ By WebUrbanist in Technology & Vehicles & Mods. ]

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Unstealable Bike: Theft-Proof Bicycle Frame Doubles as Lock

27 Aug

[ By WebUrbanist in Technology & Vehicles & Mods. ]

unstealable theft proof bicycle

If you are sick of worrying about your bike being stolen or taking a lock with you wherever you go, this design will solve both of those every problems faced by bicyclists around the world.

unstealable bicycle in action

In less than 20 seconds, the Unstealable Bike‘s locking system can be deployed by unlatching and rotating two pieces of the frame, then sliding out and using the seat bar to connect and secure those two parts.

unstealable bike leaning bridge

Unlike most quick-release seats, the ability to slide out the bar becomes an asset rather than a liability in this case, making it possible to lock up your bicycle with one of its most frequently-stolen pieces.

unstealable cycle prototype design

The scale of the components employed makes it easy to attach the cycle to anything from a slim signpost to a thick tree.

unstealable bike engineering team

Created by a team of three engineers, the bike is currently a prototype and seeking funding for mass-production and sale. Its builders bill it as safe, well-designed and comfortable – a more useful variant of the frequently-seen projects for collapsible bicycles.

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Posts Tagged ‘Bike’

Water Bed: Tow an Amphibious Mobile Shelter Behind Your Bike

The Modern Cyclist: 17 Minimalist Designer Bike Accessories

Vadolibero Bike Butler + Shelf

Six Smart Cycling Accessories by ECAL

Sleek & Simple Cup Holder

Next Page – Click Below to Read More:
The Modern Cyclist 17 Minimalist Designer Bike Accessories

Invisible Bicycles: Tokyo’s High-Tech Underground Bike Parking

Abandoned Mine is Now World’s Largest Indoor BMX Bike Park

Freezeways: Using Bike Paths as Winter Ice Skating Corridors

London Approves Europe’s First City-Spanning Bike Superhighway

H2O to Go: Bike Bottle Makes Water from Thin Air as You Cycle

Bike in a Backpack Folds Up Tiny & Weighs Just 11 Pounds

Starry Night: Glow-in-the-Dark Bike Path Inspired by Van Gogh

Unstealable Bike: Theft-Proof Bicycle Frame Doubles as Lock

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Posts Tagged ‘Bike’

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