Swiss architects and designers Rafaa have created a futuristic Copenhagen bike share system that brings a modern, almost surrealistic feel to the age-old bike stand with its sidewalk recesses to hold the bikes, underground storage and delivery, and a high-tech GPS tracking system. The Copenhagen Bike Share System uses GPS and W-LAN to track bikes around the city, using the knowledge to ensure there are always enough bikes to ride, but still respecting people’s privacy.
The hope is to get 50% of commuters cycling by 2015 with 25,000 bicycles on the streets (needing 20.000sq.m or 215,000sq.ft of street storage space), and thereby greatly reduce the city GHG emissions. The large bike storage problem is solved by having a variety of ‘dispensing’ stations every 300m (984ft) in the city center, that are either underground, at major transport hubs like bus stations, or hanging from bike dispensers mounted atop city lights.
Each bike has an electric motor and a 26V lithium battery giving it a 15km (9.3 mile) trip range and a 50km (31 mile) range between recharges. The aluminum frame contains the electronics, and integrates LEDs for lights. An 8-speed hub gear provides traction.
A credit card is used to check out a bike or you can reserve one via the Internet and have your bike setup electronically with your personal choices (right or left handed, speedy or cruise, etc.). You are only billed if the bike is stolen or damaged, or if you ride for more than 30minutes, after which it costs 5DKK (about US$0.90, or €0.67), with a variety of other charges based on usage times, and the GPS system can lock out the electric power if there is anything goes amiss or someone fancies stealing your sleek city ride.
Visit: http://www.rafaa.ch/
Via TrendsNow
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