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New Zealander Invents Segway Alternative
RainbowBrite writes "The YikeBike is the invention of a New Zealander aiming to alleviate city congestion. 'It might look like a collision between a praying mantis and a child's scooter, but it's the result of five years of work to reinvent the wheel, with one important addition: an electric motor. It's a bicycle, but not as we have come to know it. For a start, you sit upright and steer with your hands at your side.'" The YikeBike weighs in at a measly 22 lbs but has a hefty price tag of almost $5,000 US (£3,000). The battery's expected lifespan is only 1,000 charges, but the device has a projected range of around six miles.
There is a the pennyfarthing was replaced by the safety bicycle. And, with the range and battery lifetime given, it works out to about 83 cents a mile, which is probably still more expensive than a Hummer.
"Who controls the past controls the future. Who controls the present controls the past." -- George Orwell
When the Segway was finally unveiled, the disappointment pretty much killed off any widescale distribution of the device (along with crazy city ordinances).
I don't know about crazy city ordinances, but I was astounded by the speed with which the electric personal assistive mobility device gained recognition and all the rights of a bicycle under Virginia Law. I believe the law changes were in the books even before the first Segway hit pavement in Virginia. And I'm just willing to bet that you'll find similar treatment in state laws on both U.S. coasts.
"Who controls the past controls the future. Who controls the present controls the past." -- George Orwell
Pretty good gizmo except for a fatal flaw - me in my car. MUAHAHAHAH!!!
Fuck systemd. Fuck Redhat. Fuck Soylent, too. Wait, scratch the last one.
You're really over exposed as well, i fail to see how this is any better than an electric bike in any way!
That's because the greatest difference between this and a segway or bicycle was sneakily hidden in the article (and in the pics of the article):
Crucially, you can fold it into a bag and carry the whole 22lb package anywhere
It actually looks pretty damn useful (large backpack size when in bag) for being able to carry it into buildings, offices, subways, taxis, other-areas-you-can't-easily-take-an-electric-bike.
I could totally deal with the range and potential stability dangers, unfortunately that price is a deal breaker.
Now that I think about it, I'm pretty sure everything I just said is completely wrong.