Pedal Powered Vehicles Workshop

More about the PPVW

Pedal-powered transportation has much to offer cities like Melbourne. Beyond cycling for recreation, sport or commuting, there is a broad range of existing and new service functions that can be fulfilled in more sustainable ways by pedal power. This design workshop has a practical focus on developing designs and building prototypes of pedal-powered vehicles that can be tested by user groups. Participants will work in collaborative small teams to design and construct one of a range of vehicles: * a people carrier / rickshaw / pedicab; * a cargo-carrying workbike, * a service-specific customised workbike (eg a mobile shop), and * a cargo carrying bike trailer. The emphasis of the workshop is to learn through making, to produce vehicles that can advocate and demonstrate pedal-powered possibilities, to connect potential developers and users of pedal-power and build peer-to-peer relationships that may seed entrepreneurial opportunities and community benefits.

PARTICIPANTS joining the 3 week Feb 2006 workshop include . . .

Shreya Gadepalli
Human powered vehicle designer, & India Technical Director, Institute for Transportation & Development Policy, responsible for re-design of the Indian rickshaw and Indonesian becak and design of an Africa bike.
www.itdp.org

Matteo Martignoni
Bicycle development consultant & Vice President of International Human Powered Vehicle Association

Mick Douglas
Cultural Transports Unit of RMIT Industrial Design, sustainable transport artist and organiser of ‘tramjatra’ Kolkata Melbourne arts action tramways project
www. tramtactic.net

Michael Drofenik
Designer formerly with SRAM bike components

Brad Marmion
Designer of a winning competitive racing wheelchair

Kate Arch Deacon
Supremo chef and industrial design student at RMIT

Adrian Flather
prop builder and special effects maestro

WHEN – FEB 06
Monday 30 Jan – Friday 3 Feb
Monday 6 Feb – Friday 10
Monday 13 Feb - Friday 17 Feb

WHERE – INNER MELBOURNE
The design workshop is conducted over three weeks of half-day morning sessions at RMIT city campus and partner organisations.

COST – KEPT TO A MINIMUM
Participation will involve a minimal fee for prototyping materials of no more than $450 (tbc, subject to striking sponsorship deals)

OWNERSHIP – EVERYONE AND NO ONE
The workshop encourages free sharing of ideas, knowledge and skills. All participants will have access to the built prototypes for use and further development.

posted by Mick @ 10:39 pm