Reinventing the wheel, 'Tron'-style

It looks cool, and it converts any bicycle into an electric bike. Oh, and it takes 5 minutes to install.

 

Jim Motavalli

May 20, 2015

The GeoOrbital wheel in motion. That's not an optical illusion — the wheel is motionless as the tire spins. (Photo: GeoOrbital)

 

BOSTON—The first thing I noticed in Harvard Square this week was how many bicyclists there are, and the second thing was the GeoOrbital electric bike. It’s not often that a new invention stops you cold, but c’mon, these Cambridge guys have reinvented the wheel. Here's how GeoOrbital describes it:

Imagine a wheel that has a motor and a battery — a wheel that replaces your bike’s front wheel and makes your bike electric — a wheel that gets you up hills, around the park and to work without sweating. It’s the future and the early adopter price is $450.

I have two electric bikes, and they’re great fun. Beyond that, they’re a credible commuting option, especially if your journey involves hills (or you’re not as young as you used to be).

 

You definitely do a double take at GeoOrbital’s technology, because the wheel doesn’t actually turn — that’s the job of the tire, which rotates via three center-mounted hubs. A non-spinning wheel frees up a lot of space to mount the motor and battery, as well as some inevitable accessories — a cellphone charger, headlights, a speaker.

 

Michael Burtov with his evolving (and revolving) creation. (Photo: GeoOrbital)

 

Early versions weighed 35 pounds, but Dakota Decker, the company’s chief technology officer (and a former SpaceX guy) thinks that can be reduced to 20 or 25 pounds. Weight is the enemy in electric bikes, which can be heavy if pedaled without electric assist.

 

Michael Burtov, the non-engineer who co-founded GeoOrbital, said he got the idea from the motorcycles in the movie "Tron." But those fictional creations don’t make creative use of the empty inner wheel space. Burtov built a crude prototype, then brought some real designers on board. The company is still in its early stages — just three test examples have been built — but they're already taking pre-orders. After a few hundred pre-production wheels are sold, the first mass-market versions will be on the market in six months, Burtov said.

 

The inspiration: The motorcycle in the film "Tron." (Photo: Disney)

 

The beauty of the design is that the front-mounted wheel can be quickly mounted to any bike, and just as quickly removed and the pedaling bike restored. The cruising range, with a 350-watt electric motor and 10 amp-hour lithium-ion battery, is about 20 miles, though that extends to 50 miles with pedal assist (and optional extra battery packs will be available). The weight is on the front wheel, but Burtov denies that makes the bike front-heavy. "The weight doesn't spin," he said. "It's more like a saddlebag; it makes the bike more balanced."

 

GeoOrbital claims it takes only five minutes to install its wheel. The targeted bikes are “700c hybrid and 29er mountain bicycles found in specialty and big box stores.” Future versions will be aimed at 26-inch bikes, then other sizes. Burtov told me, "Our market is people who'd like to commute by bike, but don't want to sweat getting to work. It's all the people who would bike if it were easier and more practical." Is he a big biker? "I wasn't healthy enough to bike," he said. "I'm an avid biker now."

 

GeoOrbital deserves a lot of credit, though, for imagining not only that its wheel design could house a fully operational electric bicycle system, but that it could offer quick changes from conventional to electric.

For full article and a video of the GeoOrbital, go to: http://www.mnn.com/green-tech/transportation/blogs/reinventing-the-wheel-tron-style#ixzz3alyNrObS

 

 

 

Here's What Happened When A Neighborhood Decided To Ban Cars For A Month

 

Everyone loved it, obviously. And the world didn't fall apart.

By Adele Peters  May 11, 2015

[All Photos: The Urban Idea]

 

Two years ago, an average neighborhood in the South Korean city of Suwon embarked on a radical experiment: For one month, the neighborhood suddenly got rid of every car.

Called the Ecomobility Festival, it was created as a way to help the city move much more quickly to a low-carbon future by helping citizens get a visceral sense of how that future could look.

 

 

"Usually in planning you do a computer simulation—an artificial picture of the future, and maybe a PowerPoint presentation," says Konrad Otto-Zimmermann, creative director at The Urban Idea, who helped mastermind the festival. "We're doing it in a different way: in a real city, with real people, in real time. It's like a piece of theater where the neighborhood is a stage."

When planning began, the neighborhood was filled with cars, and people typically drove everywhere, even pulling up on sidewalks to park in front of shops while they ran errands. "Most of the people could not envision how their neighborhood would be car-free," Otto-Zimmerman says. "They simply said it couldn't work."

 

 

The planning process took nearly two years and countless meetings to get support from skeptics. Finally, in September of 2013, 1,500 cars were moved out of the neighborhood to parking lots elsewhere in the city. The city handed out 400 temporary bikes and electric scooters to neighbors, and set up a bike school to teach the many residents who didn't know how to ride. Mail was delivered by electric vehicles. Shuttle buses ran every 15 minutes to take people to their cars.

The neighborhood transformed. Cafes and restaurants added new sidewalk seating, and the streets filled with people. It often looked a lot like car-free streets look during "Sunday Streets" events in other places, but the length of the experiment helped show how people could actually live without cars in everyday life.

"They live it for a month so their daily routines have to adapt," says Otto-Zimmerman. "If you only have a car-free weekend, many cities do that, this is not exciting anymore. If it's only a week, people can still reschedule their way to the dentist or whatever they have that week to work around it. It has to be a month in order to hit people's daily agenda, so they really experience ecomobility in their daily life."

 

 

Though the planners originally considered the idea of switching everything back to normal after the month-long experiment—and then letting citizens push for lasting changes—the city's mayor decided to add some permanent improvements before the festival, like widening sidewalks on major streets and adding new pocket parks.

"The mayor felt that, if after all this effort, and people changing their lives for a month, there would be nothing remaining, people would think the city doesn't take it seriously," Otto-Zimmerman says. "He felt that in order to be credible, he wanted people to see it was the start of a real improvement."

After the festival ended, the city also gathered residents for a huge meeting to ask for ideas for more permanent changes. The biggest result: The speed limit was cut nearly in half, to about 18 miles per hour. That meant that commuters no longer wanted to use the neighborhood as a shortcut, and traffic started to disappear. Neighbors also decided to eliminate side parking on some major streets—and parking on sidewalks—which helped encourage people to start walking and biking to run errands. Every month, the community also hosts a car-free day.

This fall, Otto-Zimmerman will repeat the experiment in Johannesburg, South Africa, and another city will follow. "It takes an open-minded mayor who likes innovation and provocation, and has a greener vision of a city," he says. "And someone who has enough influence and supporters to go through the exercise, because it's in principle controversial."

It's also expensive: The project in Suwon cost over $10 million dollars to produce, though much of that budget went to renovating streets that were already in need of repair. Still, it's not necessarily a simple experiment to produce.

The South Korean experiment was documented in a new book called Neighborhood in Motion: One Month, One Neighborhood, No Cars.

 

http://m.fastcompany.com/3045836/heres-what-happened-when-a-neighborhood-decided-to-ban-cars-for-a-month?utm_source=facebook

 

 

 

Bike sharing is taking off in South Florida as programs thrive, expand

Bike sharing is taking off in South Florida as programs thrive, expand

 

By Angel Streeter, Sun Sentinel

 

Forget the bus. Forget taxis, trolleys or shuttles. The next best thing in public transportation for some people is a bicycle.

 

Pedaling to the beach, a restaurant or the grocery store is getting easier as bike-sharing programs are increasing in popularity and expanding throughout South Florida.

 

• In May, West Palm Beach will launch the first bike-share operation in Palm Beach County as SkyBikeWPB opens 15 bike stations in the downtown area. There will be 150 bikes available to rent by the half-hour or the hour.

 

• Broward County's bike-share program, Broward B-cycle, is in expansion mode, recently adding a bike station at the Galleria Mall.

 

• In December, Miami saw the launch of Citi Bike Miami, following in the steps of Miami Beach's successful bike-share program that began in 2011. Already, the Miami operation averages 12,000 to 13,000 riders a month, and officials are finding that they need to add more stations to the 35 they already have.

 

"Increasingly, people want to have as many transportation options as they can," said Raphael Clemente, executive director of the West Palm Beach Downtown Development Authority, which brought bike sharing to the city. "It's one more way to get from A to B."

 

West Palm Beach's bike-share program comes courtesy of SkyBridge Capital, a New York City-based hedge fund that is the main sponsor.

 

SkyBike stations will be installed at popular places throughout the downtown, including at the Tri-Rail station, the Palm Beach County Courthouse, the Palm Beach County Convention Center and several spots in CityPlace.

 

Primarily designed for short trips, bike-share programs allow users to pick up a bike at one spot and return it to another. They can pedal around town to run errands, go to nightspots, to restaurants or to work.

 

Downtown West Palm Beach workers could hop on a SkyBike rather than walk to their favorite lunch spot. Or someone heading to the city for business could travel by Tri-Rail and then grab a SkyBike to get to their final destination.

 

It's all part of the city's ongoing effort to make the downtown pedestrian- and bike-friendly and a place where a car isn't necessarily needed.

 

"If you live and work here, it is so convenient not to have to use your car," Clemente said.

 

That's particularly appealing to young people who are flocking to downtowns and are gravitating toward alternative transportation, Clemente said.

 

Take Jesus Fuentes, who lives in downtown Fort Lauderdale and has been a B-cycle member since the program started in 2011. He and his wife use the bikes on the weekend for entertainment.

 

"We ride it around New River or to Holiday Park," he said. "During the weekend, we go to the movies using the bikes."

 

A public transportation advocate, Fuentes takes Tri-Rail to work and rarely drives a car.

 

"I don't drive or I will go crazy," he said. "Millennials tend not to want to drive."

 

So while he enjoys B-cycle, he wishes it had more stations so it could be more of a transportation option for residents. For instance, his neighborhood, Flagler Village, has pushed for a B-cycle station. He also thinks Fort Lauderdale City Hall would be a perfect spot.

 

B-cycle is considering those sites as well as many others, said Jeff Torkelson, Broward B-cycle's manager.

 

There are two new locations at Fort Lauderdale Beach. Soon, stations will be installed at Las Olas Boulevard and 10th Terrace and eventually, there will be bike stations in the western areas of the county.

 

"We definitely have a plan to continue to grow the system," Torkelson said. "The more stations we can put in the better the connections are and the easier it is to use as transportation."

 

Right now B-cycle has 23 stations with 150 bikes that generate 3,000 to 5,000 riders a month. Every week, Torkelson receives requests from residents and businesses asking for the B-cycle stations to be installed near them.

 

"A lot of people are embracing it," Torkelson said.

 

Miami Beach can vouch for that. Its pioneering program has had some 4.5 million riders since it began, according to Citi Bike Miami. The program has been embraced by residents and tourists alike.

 

West Palm Beach would like to aspire to that kind of success, Clemente said. Already, SkyBike is looking at expanding beyond the downtown area.

 

"There are already requests for the program to expand before we've launched," he said. "Folks outside the downtown area are asking, 'When do we get this?'"

 

Bike-share programs may eventually end up in southern Palm Beach County as well. Delray Beach has considered starting a bike-share program. A couple of years ago, B-cycle installed one of its stations at the beach for a few days to test out whether people would use it. There were only a few users.

 

The city wants to have a complete bike-lane network before novice bike riders start renting out bikes, said John Morgan, who is responsible for the city's environmental initiatives.

 

"It's definitely in the mix of things we want to do," he said. "We will get a bike-share program. It's a matter of time. It's not going to be a long time."

 

Pedal power

 

SkyBikeWPB

 

Pricing: Until June 30, there is an early-bird promotion offering a one-year, $99 membership.

 

Memberships: $15 a month for unlimited 30-minute rides; $20 a month for unlimited 60-minute rides. Each additional 30 minutes is $4.

 

Hourly rentals: $4 for half-hour rental; $6 for one-hour rental.

 

Payment methods: Credit and debit cards, membership card, smartphone.

 

Broward B-cycle

 

Pricing: Memberships cost $25 for a seven-day pass for unlimited 30-minute rides; $45 annual pass for unlimited 30-minute rides. Additional half-hour is $1.

 

Single ride: $5 for 30 minutes

 

Payment method: Prepay online, credit and debit cards.

 

Replacement cost for bikes: $1,200

 

Website: broward.bcycle.com

 

Citi Bike Miami/Miami Beach

 

Pricing: Memberships cost $15 a month for unlimited 30-minute rides; $25 a month for unlimited 60-minute rides. Each additional 30 minutes is $4.

 

Hourly rentals: $4 for half-hour rental; $6 for one-hour rental.

 

Payment methods: Credit and debit cards, membership key fobs.

 

Replacement cost for bikes: $800

 

Website: citibikemiami.com

 

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/palm-beach/fl-bike-share-expanding-20150501-story.html#page=1

 

 

 

 

 

Family Fun Ride and Moonlight Movie in the Park

Family Fun Ride and Moonlight Movie in the Park

 

Looking for something fun to do this weekend with family and friends?  Want to get some much-needed, low-impact exercise followed by a free movie in the park with popcorn and shaved ice? Join us for the Family Fun Ride and Moonlight Movie in the Park event on Saturday, March 21, 2015 from 5:00-9:30 p.m. at Holiday Park (1150 G. Harold Martin Drive). 

 

For details, check out the Family Fun Ride and Moonlight Movie in the Park Facebook event page. While you're there, "share" and let us know you'll be coming. Information is also available on the City’s website at www.fortlauderdale.gov.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Family Fun Ride and

Moonlight Movie in the Park

Saturday, March 21, 2015 | 5:00 p.m.

Holiday Park | 1150 G. Harold Martin Drive

 

Looking for a way to spend quality time with family and friends, enjoy the great outdoors, get some much-needed, low-impact exercise followed by a free movie in the park with popcorn and shaved ice? Join the City of Fort Lauderdale for the Family Fun Ride and Moonlight Movie in the Park event on Saturday, March 21st from 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at Holiday Park.  

 

Event Highlights

• A leisurely 5-mile bike ride from Holiday Park through the Victoria Park neighborhood led by Fort Lauderdale police officers. (Helmets and bicycle lights required)
• Disney*Pixar's family-friendly movie "UP" on the outdoor big screen with free popcorn and shaved ice
• Free bicycle registration and helmet fittings 
• Kids Bike Rodeo and bicycle safety activities
• Recycled bike and new helmet giveaway

Bike Collection for Local Kids in Need

Recyclable Bicycle Exchange will be collecting used, unwanted bikes at the event. Volunteers will fix up the bikes and donate them to local kids in need.
  

Facebook Event Page

Check out the Fun Ride Facebook event page for updates. While you're there "share," and let us know you'll be there. 

 

Our Generous Sponsors

The Family Fun Ride and Moonlight Movie in the Park is being presented with support from the following sponsors: Victoria Park and Lake Ridge Neighborhood Associations, Broward B-cycle, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine (Walk/Bike Safe programs), Florida Department of Transportation, South Florida Commuter Services, Broward MPO, Urban Health Partnerships, and Recyclable Bicycle Exchange.

 

 

 

 

 

 

LET'S GO BIKING THIS SUNDAY!

 

LET’S GO BIKING ON SUNDAY, MARCH 22

 

Starting from Sabal Pines Park (5005 Northwest 39th Avenue, Coconut Creek, FL 33073 -  Registration at the Soccer Field) to Tradewinds Park 9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. 

Click on this link www.browardMPO.org/letsgobiking or on the flyer below for more details…  Please see attached press release.

 

 Celebrate Florida Bike Month Let’s Go Biking on March 22

Coconut Creek – In celebration of March is Bike Month, the Broward Metropolitan Planning Organization (Broward MPO) joins several local organizations in hosting Let’s Go Biking. This is a fun morning of activities that will end with a leisurely group bike ride along the City of Coconut Creek Greenway to Tradewinds Park. The event will take place at Sabal Pines Park, 5005 NW 39th Ave, Coconut Creek, FL 33073. REGISTRATION AT THE SOCCER FIELD from 9:30 a.m. until 12 noon Sunday, March 22.

 

Activities scheduled for the morning include:

• Bicycle helmet fitting – 9:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
• Bicycle Helmet giveaways
• Bicycling giveaways
• Group bike ride - 10 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. 
• Food Trucks - 10:30 a.m. to 12 noon

 

Fun for the whole family and there is no charge to participate.

Sponsors of the event include City of Coconut Creek, Florida Introduces Physical Activity and Nutrition to Youth (FLIPANY), Broward County, Broward B-cycle, South Florida Commuter Services, and South Florida Regional Transportation Authority/Tri-Rail.

 

For more information about Let’s Go Biking, call 1-800-234-RIDE (7433) or visit www.browardMPO.org/letsgobiking

 

 

 

Christopher Ryan, Public Information Officer/Title VI Coordinator

 

 

Open Streets on East Las Olas Sunday, November 23rd!

This Solar-Powered Electric Bike May Be Even Greener Than A Regular Bicycle

Cruising towards the goal of a true zero-emissions vehicle.

 

 

Compared to cars, electric bikes have a tiny carbon footprint. Still, if you're charging your bike with coal-powered electricity, it isn't completely clean transportation. A new solar-powered electric bike called the Dutch Solar Cycle is an attempt to change that.

The design isn't the first to build solar power into an electric bike, but it uses unique technology that makes it possible to charge the bike even when it's cloudy outside or the solar panels get dirty. Its nano-inverter allows the harvesting of more energy from a single solar cell, allowing the bike's creator, the Solar Application Lab, to create solar products that operate even in under non-ideal conditions.

As the bike sits outside or someone rides, the solar panels on the wheel send power to a battery through induction, the same process used to charge an electric toothbrush. On a bright and sunny day, the battery can fully charge in four to six hours. In bad weather, it might take twice as long.

Unlike typical electric bikes, the Solar Cycle doesn't have to come inside to charge, and a cyclist doesn't have to remember to plug it in before it's ready to use. With ordinary use and enough time in the sun, the battery should never empty. If the battery does run low, it's also possible to manually charge it or just pedal like an ordinary bike.

The designers worked to fully integrate solar panels into the design, rather than adding them as an afterthought. The team is building a prototype of the bike that will be ready for testing next June and will ride the bike in a 5,000-mile race for electric bicycles. They hope to have a fully market-ready product three years later. It won't be cheap: Even when the technology is being manufactured at scale, it may add a $500-$600 premium to the cost of a bike.

Technically, it may be even more sustainable than a regular bike for longer distances. One study found that the carbon footprint of a bicycle is already roughly equal to an electric bike, thanks to the energy used to grow food to feed a cyclist.

Riding a bike creates 21 grams of carbon emissions per kilometer, while an ordinary electric bike creates only about 22 grams. This version would trim that down to almost nothing—coming close to the goal of a truly zero-emissions vehicle.

 

[Photo: via Dutch Solar Cycle]

 

 

 

Top 10 Green Tips For Children

Start them while they are young!  And parents – most of these will save you money, too!

 

 

 

By Joanne Capano on July 22, 2014

 

Teaching children to care for the environment is an important parental responsibility that is crucial for their future. But sometimes helping the planet can feel overwhelming for small shoulders. Remember to encourage young children to take one step at a time when going green. The little things they can do really make a big difference.

Many solutions to our environmental problems are very simple. There are many ways to care for the environment - from reusing common household items to putting paper and plastic in the recycle box. Encourage children to do one small thing, and then add another and another . Before you know it, those little steps add up to a lot more green. Also consider your children’s ages and how much responsibility they can handle. Above all, make it a fun family affair. Children learn best when they are happy and can model our behavior.

 

Here are 10 ways to encourage children to go green:

The power switch: One simple way we can conserve the earth’s resources is by not using more electricity than we need. Teach children to turn off lights when they leave a room and turn off the TV if they are not watching it.

Pull the plug: Even when electronics and appliances are turned off, they still consume energy if plugged in the electrical outlet. Conserve energy by teaching older children to unplug their game systems, computers, chargers, or audio equipment. Little ones can participate too by becoming the family “plug police” and inform grownups of any unused household equipment that is plugged into an electrical outlet.

Tighten up: Encourage children to check water taps in the house to make sure they are tightened and inform a grownup if any faucets leak. A drop-per-second leak wastes about 2,400 gallons of water a year.

Turn off the tap: Water should not be running while children brush their teeth. Teach children to turn off the tap and reduce shower time to conserve energy.

Collect rainwater: Water can be recycled too! Children often enjoy collecting rainwater. The next time it rains, place a pail or container outside and put a heavy rock or brick inside to prevent it from tipping over. When the rain is done, they will have a fresh supply of water to feed household plants.

Use community resources: Libraries carry more than books. Selection of CDs, audio tapes and DVDs are also available. Some communities have toy lending libraries. Learn about community resources and encourage children to find items that are new to them instead of purchasing new things.

 

Pass it on: Clothes, toys and other household items that are no longer used can be donated to organizations instead of thrown into the trash. Pick through items with your children and find a local organization that will benefit from your donation. Children feel good knowing they are helping their community.

Litter free lunch challenge: Packaging our children’s lunches can create a lot of waste. Most disposable items can be replaced by reusable ones. Involve your children in finding creative ways to pack a healthy lunch that leaves no trash behind. Try inexpensive stainless steel cutlery instead of plastic, cloth napkins rather than paper, or thermoses, reusable glass, and plastic containers instead of disposable plastic or paper.

Reuse or recycle: Teaching children to place recyclable items in the recycle bin is an important way to help the environment. Finding creative ways to reuse household items is another. Make it a fun challenge for the entire family. Be creative and you’ll be surprised how easily an empty cereal box can be transformed into a letter holder, or how quickly an empty shoebox can turn into a storage container for photos and artwork. The possibilities are endless! You’ll be reducing waste and having a fun time with the children’s new ideas.

 

Bike or Walk: Going somewhere doesn’t always mean having to use a car. Encourage your children to walk or ride their bikes for short trips. For younger children, grab your running shoes and walk or bike with them. In addition to reducing pollution, the entire family will benefit from some exercise.

Fostering a love for planet Earth, and teaching children the behavior needed to preserve its beauty, can be achieved when simple solutions are implemented. Fortunately, children are often eager and enthusiastic to lend a helping hand. With guidance, children will grow up to become stewards of the environment so their world will be a cleaner and safer place to live in.

 

http://naturallysavvy.com/nest/top-10-green-tips-for-children

 

 

 

 

Today's Tip: Give your car a break

Using public transportation, carpooling, biking or walking can save energy and reduce carbon pollution on your way to and from work. Leaving your car at home just two days a week can reduce carbon pollution by an average of two tons per year.

Do you hate getting stuck in traffic jams? It may seem bold, but consider telecommuting (working from home via phone or the Internet), which can reduce the stress of commuting, reduce pollution, and save money. Even small life changes, like combining your errands and activities into one trip when using your car, make an impact.

Learn more about how you can act on climate: http://epa.gov/climatechange/wycd

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shifting Gears: Hilton Head Embraces Bicycles

Resort Community Recognized for Bike-Friendly Byways

By Joanna Nadeau
Audubon International

Summer is the perfect time to get away from it all, and for many vacationers that means getting away from traffic jams and smog, in particular. So, it's no surprise that an oceanfront resort town would make traffic reduction a major priority.

At its summer peak, Hilton Head Island, S.C., draws 50,000 vehicles a day to its normally quiet, green streets. So, the town has been constructing and promoting bike paths as a way to minimize the air pollution and congestion caused by the sharp increase in summertime traffic. With 60 miles of public bike paths and a total of 108 miles of multiple-use trails on the island, most of Hilton Head’s major sights and activity centers are now accessible by bike – whether you prefer beach cruiser, road bike, or hybrid. Biking has caught on in this beach community, and with 20,000 bikes available to rent from local outfitters, both residents and visitors alike are finding it more convenient to get around the island on two wheels rather than four. (read more)