It Doesn't Take a Genius: 'Power to the Pedal' Design Competition Underway
by Andrew Posner, Providence, Rhode Island on 02. 4.08
Design 21: social design network works "to bring designers and non-profits together to create, share and discuss socially responsible design." In partnership with UNESCO, they have brought us the Heated Issue: A Global Warming Design and the DESIGN 21 Logo Competitions. The success of those contests, as measured by the quality of the winning entries, led DESIGN 21 to announce more design competitions. The latest, dubbed 'Power to the Pedal', is challenging designers "across the globe to create accessories for bicycles that would encourage people to make bicycling a part of their everyday lives."
Learn more about the reasoning behind the contest and the prizes after the fold.
Bicycling is undoubtedly good for communities, air-quality, climate change, health, and more, but a lack of infrastructure and public awareness, combined with attitudes about cycling and cyclists in general, inhibit greater adoption of the bicycle as a viable form of transportation and leisure. 'Power to the Pedal' hopes to solve some of those problems via innovative designs. The contest description reads, "through accessories or add-ons, designers should make bicycling more convenient, more enjoyable, safer and easily integrated into daily lifestyles." The entries will be judged "based on overall effectiveness, creativity, practicality, aesthetics and how well it responds to environmental concerns," and the winner will take home $5,000.
We are so excited about the 'Power to the Pedal' design competition because by making cycling more like the other things we aspire to--such as driving--we stand a real chance of making inroads into how people choose to get from place to place. After all, cars are about convenience, gadgets, status and aspirations. With some good marketing and good design, there's no reason to think bicycle commuting can't achieve similar status in our society.
Via: ::Dexigner and ::Design 21
See Also: ::10 Commandments of (Sustainable) Design, ::Upcoming Events: Design: Green, ::Time to Take Action:A Call for Entries for Climate Change Design Solutions, ::TreeHugger Picks: Biomimicry in Product in Design, ::London Design Festival: How Green Will it Be?, ::Brad Pitt Announces Sustainable Design Competition for New Orleans, ::Aventures in Eco-Design: Exploring Dumpster Diving, ::Uncorking Design: DWR's Champagne Chair Contest and ::G4E! An Eco Design Platform Good for Environment
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Power to the Pedal... I was hoping that meant something different.
I have always thought it could be of huge benefit for developing countries if someone could come up with very cheap durable pedal powered electric generators. If cheap enough it could be pared with PV panels to be used in remote locations for things like water pumps, purification, communication and battery powered LED lanterns. The inevitable period when the sun disappears for a day would be countered by setting up two peddle generators and challenging the local kids to have odometer races.
Same here, Rhapsody. I was hoping that someone would make every gym experience a chance to harness all the watts of energy produced on fly-wheel, pedal and walking devices and make the gym become a greater-good contributor...These machines share much; a common space, attachment to the floor and usually have a huge roof for all the holding cells (lacking the technical terms) or back-to-the-grid "plug".
if you guys check out Design For The other 90%, there is actually a water pump made out of bamboo that actually is an exercise machine, used mostly in africa, and, if i recal correctly, designed by non-designers, real life human beings =]
Actually in this case, a proposed water pump it would be simpler to use machanical means rather then converting the energy from the bike to electricity and then send it to a pump. If you remember hand pumps were always a steady way of producing water from 1" spickets. Additionally wind power could be added to augment this. So if you were in a baren area and had and available aquifer you could fit a few bikes and pay these people literally pennies to produce water.
I like the both of you would like a way to produce peddle power to energy for semi fast moving vehicles. I have two ideas and both are based on a light carbon fiber 3 wheeled bike chasis. One is to use more then three cogs to produce a high rate of revolution much like the three speed bikes used to do. The other is to use solar panels and and peddle generator to produce electric current to motors on either on axle or to the one rear wheel.
I would really like to meet up with some mechanical designers who could help in this area. We could put a project plan together and test some theories.
A group I volunteer with has been digging wells in Nicaragua for several years now... . (60) to date....They have a office in Chinendega and several well drilling crews. Water is the solution to so many in 3rd world countries...Many villages do not have access to electrricity. Solar panels are still expensive and there is a big problem with theft. Bicycle parts are available and can also be transported with volunteer groups from the USA that constantly vistit and work.
I do not have a technical background and hope you can share insight. Where electricity is available, 1/2 horspower sump pumps are used in the wells. Is it feasible to use "bicycle power" for these wells ? Car batteries, altenators, .....etc. are available.
A group I volunteer with has been digging wells in Nicaragua for several years now... . (60) to date....They have a office in Chinendega and several well drilling crews. Water is the solution to so many in 3rd world countries...Many villages do not have access to electrricity. Solar panels are still expensive and there is a big problem with theft. Bicycle parts are available and can also be transported with volunteer groups from the USA that constantly vistit and work.
I do not have a technical background and hope you can share insight. Where electricity is available, 1/2 horspower sump pumps are used in the wells. Is it feasible to use "bicycle power" for these wells ? Car batteries, altenators, .....etc. are available.