Saturday, August 30, 2008

Blair Hasty’s bicycle designed for personal and community health.

By Sameer Kumar Via: ecofriend

"This started as a project for the class and is now in the shape of something that has both huge potential for future and definitely the design and structure that could be used by any big bicycle brand across the planet. This just goes to show once again how a young, creative and pressure free mind is a lot better at times than those who are working on paid research. The Commuter designed by Blair Hasty is a bicycle that promotes health over comfort and clean air over carbon emissions. I will take that combination any day for sure.

It is a known fact that most of the city commuters have short distance to cover and commute all alone in a car. This not only causes a problem to the traffic during rush hour, but also adds to the already alarmingly increasing carbon content in air. No wonder then that Blair turned towards a bicycle concept for his green design and it has surely paid off.

In traditional bike designs the rider’s feet are underneath them causing their torso to hunch forward in order to reach the handles. This results in unnecessary strain on the lower back, arms, and buttocks, not to mention poor aerodynamics. This bike eliminates those problems with its design and it also gives you that feeling that you are Lance Armstrong on the Alpine slopes during Tour De France. The new position of pedals behind the feet gives you a lot better position and better aerodynamics too.


The new riding position helped solve the storage problem by freeing up plenty of useable space beneath the rider. In this newly acquired gap the rider can suspend a large bag for cargo. And as for the storage of the bicycle, after the destination has been reached and the cargo contained within the bag can be removed, it can be expanded and the bike can be folded and placed inside. The design surely is both a success in regards to the rider’s health and of course emission free commuting. It would be nice to see more such designs take center-stage and make a greener tomorrow."

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