Pedal Powered Vehicles Workshop

PPVW Final Video link

2006-04-10T21:00:00.000+09:30

Hi everyone,

sorry for the delay in posting the video. I've been unable to set up the video so it streams as it downloads - If anyone can help that would be much appreciated.

If not here are a couple of versions (they are still quite large).

Low Quality (11 mb)

Medium Quality (25 mb)

Images from Fed Square

2006-02-28T20:07:00.000+10:30

Images from the Ride on Dinner

2006-02-28T20:01:00.000+10:30

Pedal Powered Possibility Forum

2006-02-28T19:57:00.000+10:30

Friday 17 Feb - Presentation to the stakeholders involved with the project.

PPVW at SLF

2006-02-14T01:27:00.000+10:30

EXHIBITION OF PEDAL-POWERED VEHICLES at the SUSTAINABLE LIVING FESTIVAL

The vehicles and accessories designed and prototyped through the Pedal-Powered Vehicle Workshop will be displayed for public comment and discussion, along with examples of work-trikes and bikes by two leading Australian human-powered vehicle developers and manufacturers Greenspeed and Trisled.

WHEN: 10am-5pm both Sat 18th & Sun 19th Feb

WHERE: Federation Square central plaza, Melbourne

finale forum

2006-02-14T01:25:00.000+10:30

HERE IS A PEDAL-POWERED POSSIBILITY
A forum presenting pedal-powered vehicles and sustainable transport strategy

A two-part forum, firstly with guest speakers discussing sustainable transport planning in Melbourne and the potential of increasing a work-cycle culture, to be followed by a series of presentations to transportation stakeholders from the Pedal-Powered Vehicle Workshop participants that propose ideas to ‘make pedal-powered work’, including vehicle prototypes.

WHEN: 9.30am-12.30pm Fri 17th Feb

WHERE: RMIT City Campus, Ground Floor, Building 50, 11 Orr St
(behind NW corner of Victoria & Lygons Sts)

GUEST SPEAKERS:
Andrew Korr, Transport Planning Coordinator of City of Melbourne
Cr Jackie M Fristacky, Mayor City of Yarra & Deputy Chair of the Metropolitan Transport Forum

RESPONDENTS:
Ben Goodall - Designer & Director, Trisled Human Powered Vehicles
Rob Moore - Manager Urban Design, City of Melbourne
Darren Andrews - Director - Environmental Services, Green Collect Limited
Paul Simms - Greenspeed Recumbent Trikes & HPVs,
Damon Rao, Planning and Policy, Department of Infrastructure
Andrew Martin – Blackrose Cycles
. . . and more

And even our metal is carted by bike

2006-02-14T01:18:00.000+10:30

that is, by Bill on his bike with trolley and 40kg metal in tow.

Folding Trailer

2006-02-13T23:59:00.000+10:30

The basic premise for the folding trailer has remained largely unchanged through the development process. An early wooden model was made and this was used as the basis for a lightweight aluminium frame made later. The frame uses stainless steel hinges.

Simon was able to get lightwight Acrylic wheels.
The design also uses an asymetrical mount off the rear wheel.
The original concept was to have a locking mechanism that left the trolley in its chosen shape - Now the shape will be held in place by a basket/tray locked to the top of the frame.

Bike to Load Carrying Trike conversion

2006-02-13T23:42:00.000+10:30

This team's goal is to create a trailer that can link to the rear drive wheel of an existing bike turning it into a load carrying trike.

The basic design has remained the same throughout the past week however compromises have been made due to material and tool availability.

Tricky Trike - Recumbent load carrier

2006-02-13T23:28:00.000+10:30

The "tricky Trike" team have been rapidly developing a single frame trailer/transport. Initial ideas were using the front end off an existing bike, however, further development led to a redesign with a recumbent configuration. The bike frame is steel with a wooden custom made trailer insert.
The development process included chalk drawings, 3d CAD sketching and Cardboard Mockups.

The team also has their own dedicated blog here

Shopping Trailer

2006-02-13T23:18:00.000+10:30

Through extensive development and drawing James, helped by Matteo, Shreya and Luca, developed a shopping trailer that hitched to the back of the bike when taken to and from the shops.

A choice was made early on to use existing baskets (the plastic ones available instore as well as the wire ones able to be purchased). These baskets went through various configurations before a basic steel tubing frame was made up.

Small One-Wheeled Trailer

2006-02-13T23:04:00.000+10:30

Bill has been developing a one wheel trailer and hitch assembly.

The basic concept is based on an asymetrical connection to the rear wheel and the trailer is made from thin bent steel tubing.

Once the basic concept was tested he refined the components - making a new trailer out of a continuous piece of tubing. He is also going to revisit the hitching connection -refining it to make it stronger still and able to wrap around a standard crate.

Ride-On Dinner

2006-02-13T22:59:00.000+10:30

6pm Fri 17th Feb
CARLTON GARDENS
starting at north end (corner of Carlton & Canning Sts) . . .

grab your cycle and an appetite for the spice of life to join a cavalcade of cyclists served a 3-course meal, pausing in 3 different locations, over a 3-hour evening inner-city ride . . . meals are limited! . . . the first 50 people to register for the Ride-On-Dinner will receive confirmation to be fed, receive a map, and a cycle-worthy napkin. . . all cyclists welcome to pedal alongside. . .

register by sending an email to rideondinner@gmail.com

the Ride-On-Dinner event is pedalled by artist Mick Douglas and participants of the Pedal-Powered Vehicles Workshop, a 3-week intensive program of events exploring the possibilities of work-cycles, hosted by the Cultural Transports Unit of RMIT

(food on the ride-on-dinner will be a no-meat no-dairy damn fine feast sure to please all!)

Ceri's Contraptions

2006-02-13T22:49:00.000+10:30

Ceri (from Rmit Public Art) has been working on a range of pedal powered possibilities often mixing unusual objects with rescued bike components.

These include a scooter driven post office crate & a plastic crate trolley.

Design Development

2006-02-08T20:12:00.000+10:30

The last two days over in Collingwood have been dedicated to planning and developing projects over the remaining days.

The plan is to have a range of finished prototypes to exhibit in a fortnight.

New Blog

2006-02-08T15:07:00.000+10:30

Hi folks. This is mainly for Sam, Peter and Liam, but everyone else is free to comment and whatnot. We've created a blog for design discussions relating to The Trike. It lives here.

Luca, it is probably a good idea of yours or Mick's (can't remember) that we keep a "look" for the PPVW blogs, so if you somehow get the template to me I can chuck it in.

Peace out.

- a

Week 2 Day 1

2006-02-06T19:25:00.000+10:30

Lots of discussion on where the project is heading over the next two weeks.

Reflection on the Trailer building excercise at the end of last week.

Strengths:

Highly productive
Efficient (when good task delegation is utilised)
Sharing of ideas and skillbases'
Able to work with trial and error
positive Working and creative environment.

Weaknesses:

Delay in sourcing components
Lack of communication between different projects and within small groups
Building before the design has been clarified
Time Management
Task Division
Need for Leaders
Rushed Schedule
Lack of Tools/equipment

Our Realistic Goals for the rest of the project

Need for physical outcomes/concepts for the forum, dinner and festival
Keep it Simple (existing components/mechanisms)
Aesthetic considerations (clean finished projects)
The outcomes are to be "locally responsive" for Melbourne
Introduce new possibilities and gain universal appeal for bicycling
Recycling possibilities
Use of Retrofitting
Possible conceptual outcomes (to persue in the future)
Alliances (eg with Green Collect)

Chosen Concepts to Persue

Continue to develop the hitching mechanism and trailer
Develop a food/service vehicle
Develop a mobile bike maintenance vehicle

Kensington Workshop Experience (videos)

2006-02-05T17:17:00.000+10:30

Quicktime Movies:

Video Slideshow of the development process.

Small Version (2.3mb)
Large Version (6.3 mb)

The Trailers IN ACTION!

Small Version (2.1mb)
Large Version (6.1mb)

Kensington Workshop Experience (photos)

2006-02-05T16:49:00.000+10:30

The PPVW team headed across to outer space studios in Kensington to rapidly develop some ideas for bicycle trailers over two mornings

Apart from having a great time some very innovative and creative ideas came about...

Shopping Trolley Towing attachment attached to the seat post.
Fold down bicycle tow-bar attached to the wheel fork - made from a section off another bike.

One Wheeled Trailer made from disgarded bike frames and components.

Mobile Bike Mechanic Workshop including a spare bike, bike mount and other helpful features.

2 Trailers made from disused shopping trolleys

Telescopic long trailer

Street Sign Trailers

1st Feb Brainstorming - Early Directions

2006-02-02T19:31:00.000+10:30

Methods for Attaching-Detaching
- Cable springs
- Backpacks
- Webbing Straps
- Universal joints
- Ball joints
- Quick release
- Car tow ball
- Side car
- Forks attached to back wheel
- Triangulated struts
- Solid attachment to back of bike – no joint with a free trailor wheel
- Hosepipe/ Plumbing fittings
- Flexible Joint (windsurfer mast joint)
- Attachment points (rear axle, rack mount)
- Front fork with bike wheel detached as the hub.
- Telescopic connections
- Seat clamp
- Head Set

Possible Materials
Rubber, Wire, Rope, Tent materials (rods, elastic), urethane solid rods.

Materials and Technology
- Re-purposing existing objects
- Miscellaneous low value objects with a new purpose
- No Welds
- Other industries (plumbing, marine, auto) components.

PPVW Needs
- Service – Food Hospitality
- Flexible Cargo Carrying (materials and components)
- Mobile Workshop and Maintenance (tools, parts etc)
- Public Communication Capacity

New Ideas/ Opportunities
- Flexible Linkage devices (to trail bikes, trail rigid objects)
- Trailer attachment secondary uses
- Point-to-point use beyond bike

Videos from Day 1

2006-02-02T17:09:00.000+10:30

Finally got the videos up and working.

Quicktime movie files:

Small version (2.0 mb)

Large version (6.1 mb)

mush!

2006-02-01T18:10:00.000+10:30

hmmm?

A $40 Wheelchair design

2006-02-01T17:10:00.000+10:30

A great example of work by another group of designers lending their skills for a better quality of life for others.
The link to their site is here: Free Wheelchair Mission

pedal-powered: Shreya Gadepalli & Matteo Martignoni lecture

2006-02-01T11:54:00.000+10:30

Two free public lectures sharing experiences in developing human-powered transportation projects in India, Indonesia, Africa & North America.

WHEN:
6.30pm Wed 1 Feb,

WHERE:
RMIT City Campus Casey Plaza lecture theatre
building 10, Bowen St, (btwn Latrobe & Franklins Sts, ground floor of white angular building with plenty of bike parking at front.)

WHAT:
Shreya Gadepalli
Rickshaws and Pedicabs: Solutions from the past for the future

Matteo Martignoni
Human Powered Vehicles: international insights

WHO:
Shreya Gadepalli is a Designer and Technical Director with Institute for Transportation & Development Policy based in India. She is a graduate of the Indian Institute of Technology, and has been leading designer on the India cycle rickshaw improvement project. Because the improved design rickshaws are easier to pedal and more attractive to customers, rickshaw pullers - often the poorest of the poor - are able to increase their incomes. In just three years, the number of these cycle rickshaws on Indian streets has reached over 100,000. A similar improvement project is underway in Indonesia on the becak rickshaw.

Matteo Martignoni is a bicycle industry consultant and Vice President of the International Human Powered Vehicle Association based in New York. He is a board-member of the non-government organisation Institute for Transportation & Development Policy, and works with Shreya Gadepalli on transport development projects in India and Indonesia. His extensive human-powered vehicle experience includes building aerodynamic land-speed record vehicles and amphibious vehicles.

Scenarios for using a bike trailer / cycle attachment.

2006-02-01T11:34:00.000+10:30

• Transporting goods (bulk supplies or moving house)
• Transporting people (children elderly disabled) – they can provide power assistance (by hand).
• Trailers can have multiple uses (when not in use – a table, tent- wheelbarrow)
• Variable geometry modular structure –able to be attached to multiple vehicles (bike, wheelchair)
• Need – Shopping – detachable to take into shop and house.
• Moving larger items – transporting another bike (the attached bike can be mounted to the towing bike with the use of its existing wheels) – an attachment to connect two bikes together.
• Mobile bike mechanic trailer with – stand, tool board, trueing rig. Make the trailer itself the “gadget” – utilising the trailers form as a practical object.
• Student needs (folio, laptop, backpack) detachable able to be taken about uni – attached to bike then taken home. “Point to Point service”

• Specialised trailers (musical instrument case, golf clubs) the object to be transported becomes the structure of the trailer.
• Wheelchair attachment to a bicycle – able bodied person can tow the wheelchair then detach it to function normally.
• Pram/child pusher attachment – simple connection to your bike.
• “Date” attachment – taking another passenger. On the back or side or behind your seat.
• “sensitive items” (an iron shirt, delicate goods) – paneer that you can fold into it.
• Hover trailer, trailers with gyro stability, suspentions.
• Riding in the rain without a raincoat. “ beetle wings” interlocking forms that can be reconfigured for different needs (rain protection, wind etc)
• An attachment that can function as a scooter, trolley when not in use.
• Flat pack trailer-cheap materials. Able to be assembled quickly and easily.
• Retrofitting existing cheap items to use as a trailer (milk crates, bread crates, shopping trolley)
• Moving house, long objects, small objects (series of different sized trailers for different tasks – system for hiring different sizes)
• Front wheel of the bike can be taken off and used on a trailer attachment.
• Camping trailer with integrated beds and tents (mobile homeless shelters)
• Pet transport.
• Tradesman’s trailer (solar/battery power, dynamo charging)
• PTO attached to your bike that can drive additional gadgets needed.
• Picnic trailer (cage becomes table)

Notes on the Speakers from Forum 1

2006-01-31T14:10:00.000+10:30

Frasier Brindly Councillor, City of Melbourne.
“Melbourne is at a tipping point with transport”
- Need for structural change within the cbd to accommodate HPVs.

Key issues:
- Road Space allocation (dissporportionate amount of space given to cars)
- Need for a dedicated bike lane.
- Planning for dedicated bike parking
- Overcoming political and economic interests (60 million in revenue from car parking and fines)

Ben Goodall Designer and Director, Trisled Human Powered Vehicles

“Improve public perception from a design perspective”
- If machines are designed simply and work effectively then people will respond positively
- Designers need to address major safety issues for work bikes eg. Braking capacity
- Users will respond towards Cenvenience, economics and fitness

Jared Osborne Policy Development Officer - Sustainable Communities

How can policy with an imagination have social and political benefits?
How can we implement cultural change and appeal towards bikes?
Can bikes be given the same attention as cars in advertising and appeal to the same audience?

Rachael Carlyle Sustainable Transport Coordinator for Environment Victoria.

20% of Car trips in Melbourne are under 1km.
Current Projects:
- Families of the future (encouraging families to ride with children – modifying their bike for safe travel)
- Cycling into a sustainable future (encouraging cycling in schoolchildren)
Emphasised the need for a moble bicycle repair unit.

Rob Moore Manager Urban Design, City of Melbourne
Key points:
- Need for a significant shift in policy to reduce the cars in the city.
- Too much emphasis on motor vehicles in current design for public space.
- Using Road space to park vehicles isn’t sensible.
- Higher rates will counter lost parking revenue and in exchange we will get more space.

Ian Simms CEO Greenspeed Recumbent trikes

Key points:
- Why choose cars? Safety, Protection, fear and aesthetic desire.
- Greenspeed Rationale: Well designed, ergonomic vehicles that feel and look great so people will enjoy riding them. The Key is to tap into “desire”
- Incorporate bikes into the road planning. Dedicated bike lanes marginalise the bike user.

Darren Andrews Environmental Services - Green Collect

- Recycling network offers new employment and support opportunities.
- Current system is hand trolley based with definite potential to pick up larger items if a cargo bike is designed.

Elliot Fishman - Institute of Sustainable Transport
Opportunities for pedal powered vehicles:
- Bike Taxis: Additional revenue from advertising. Seniors discounts
- Mobile bike mechanics: Strategic location options. No property rental
- Café/food vendor: Well postioned, unique experience, able to sell in remote locations.
- Load bearing cargo bikes: Available for hire.

Potential for Bike Stations around the city:
- hospitality facilities ie. Showers, toilets, food
- workshop onsite
- centre for hire.

Restricting the access of motor vehicles will lead to more people friendly Cbd.

Problems:
- Insurance, Spped, Cultural impact, Safety.

Ian Christie Project Manager - Bicycle Industies Australia
Key points:
- 1.2 million bikes sold annually in Australia.
- Appeal is for fitness health and recreation.
- Fear is due to safety concerns and lack of end-of-trip facilities.
- Impact of social status: hot sweaty work is not ideal.
Ride to work programs and Bike Education.

Photos from day 1

2006-01-30T18:15:00.000+10:30

Click on the images for a larger version

FORUM Tues 31 Jan

2006-01-26T13:33:00.000+10:30

WHO NEEDS TO MAKE 'PEDAL-POWERED' WORK?
A forum setting the scene for pedal-powered work activity in Melbourne

WHEN: 9.30am-12.30pm Tuesday 31 Jan

WHERE: RMIT City Campus, Level 4, Building 87, 410 Elizabeth St
(nr corner A’Beckett St, above Hudsons Coffee)

WHAT: What are the problems and/or the possibilities of increasing a culture of pedal-powered work in Melbourne through pedicabs, cargobikes and trikes, vendor service cycles and bike trailers?
Are pedal-powered vendor services only for poor cities or for most-livable cities? Would increased workcycles have negative impacts on bicycle lanes and mixed road traffic, or would workcycles reduce traffic? Why haven’t pedicab services been able to successfully operate in Melbourne? Is the Australian licensing law limit of 200W electric power assist in the pedal cycle classification preventing the viability of load-bearing workcycles in Australia, or is there a lack of clever local approaches to powerful pedalling? What services could be provided in pedal-powered ways? Is pedal work dehumanising, or could it help build community connections? Has the baker’s delivery bike and the fruit & veg pedal-cart turned the corner to head back our way? Why pedal any harder?

A number of transport stakeholders will share their views on issues of pedal-powered work, followed by explorative discussions, including the participation of representatives from Vic Roads, Environment Victoria, Bicycle Victoria, local BUGS and the participants of the PPVW.

SPEAKERS:
1. Fraser Brindley - Councillor, City of Melbourne
2. Ben Goodall - Designer & Director, Trisled Human Powered Vehicles
3. Jared Osborne - Policy Dev’t Officer - Sustainable Communities, Victorian Local Governance Assoc.
4. Ian Christie -Project Manager, Bicycle Industries Australia (formerly of Christie Cycles)
5. Rob Moore -Manager Urban Design, City of Melbourne
6. Darren Andrews - Director - Environmental Services, Green Collect Limited
7. Ian Simms - CEO Greenspeed Recumbent Trikes & HPVs,
8. Elliot Fishman - Institute for Sensible Transport

PROGRAM:
9.15 coffee & register
9.30 introduction to the Pedal Powered Vehicle Workshop – Mick Douglas
9.40 8 speakers x 5/10 mins
11.00 morning tea
11.20 forum discussion 1: the barriers and limitations to a workcycle culture in Melbourne
11.50 forum discussion 2: the strengths and opportunities of a workcycle culture in Melbourne
12.20 summary of directions for further work – Soumitri Varadarajan
12.30 close

PEDAL VEHICLE DEMO Monday 30 Jan

2006-01-26T13:27:00.000+10:30

Try this pedal-powered bike, trike, recumbent, velo…
A show, tell and pedalling start to the workshop with a range of vehicles to demo

WHEN: 10.00am-1.00pm Monday 30 Jan

WHERE: *** NOTE CHANGE OF VENUE ***
Collingwood Housing Estate underground carpark
Harmsworth Street, Collingwood (near SE corner of Harmsworth & Perry Sts, underneath the commission flats. Look for ‘PPVW’ signs.)

WHAT: A practical start to the 3 week workshop with a show and tell of different vehicles, to be taken for a ride to generate discussion.

SHOWING VEHICLES:
Ben Goodall - Trisled rickshaw & worktrike
Bill Bretherton - Indonesian becak (rickshaw)
Ian Simms - Greenspeed recumbent cargobikes
Brad Marmion – competitive racing wheelchair
Andrew Martin – blackrose cycles
Louisa Jenkinson & Paul Shub – theatrical bikes
Mark Homer – workcycle

Plus PPVW participants bringing vehicles
… and inviting interesting vehicles!

update on workshop events

2006-01-13T17:29:00.000+10:30

The workshop is taking shape, amazing people are getting involved, an exciting working location is confirmed...
Here is a glance at what is coming:

A WORKSHOP DESIGNING AND BUILDING PROTOTYPE VEHICLES
30 Jan – 17 Feb, Outer Space Studio, Kensington

A team of 20 designers, bicycle industry workers, new-service entrepreneurs and sustainable transport advocates will be working together in an intensive hot-house environment to develop working prototypes that demonstrate the potential of pedal-powered vehicles, particularly a pedicab/rickshaw, cargo workbike, vendor service bikes, trailers and bike add-ons and theatrical bikes.
* * * * *

WHO NEEDS TO MAKE ‘PEDAL-POWERED’ WORK?
A forum setting the scene for pedal-powered activity in Melbourne
9.30am-12.30pm Tuesday 31 Jan, RMIT City Campus

A series of presentations by key transport stakeholders on the problems and possibilities of increasing pedal-powered culture in Melbourne through pedicabs, cargobikes, vendor service bikes, bike trailers, and theatrical bikes – to be followed by discussion. Presentations will be given by bicycle industry developers, local and state government representatives, service providers seeking vehicles, and sustainable transportation advocates.
* * * * *

PEDAL-POWERED – PUBLIC LECTURE
Two lectures sharing experiences in developing human-powered transportation projects in India, Indonesia, Africa & North America.
6.30pm Wed 1 Feb, RMIT City Campus
‘Rickshaws and Pedicabs: Solutions from the past for the future’ by Shreya Gadepalli, Designer and Technical Director with Institute for Transportation & Development Policy based in India.
‘Human Powered Vehicles: international insights’ by Matteo Martignoni, bicycle industry consultant and Vice President of the International Human Powered Vehicle Association based in New York.
Where: Casey Plaza lecture theatre, building 10
(enter via Bowen St, ground floor of white angular building with plenty of bike parking at front.)
* * * * *

HERE’S A PEDAL-POWERED POSSIBILITY
A public presentation and response forum to the Pedal Powered Vehicle Workshop
9.30am-12.30pm Fri 17th Feb, RMIT City Campus

A series of presentations of ideas that make pedal-powered work, including vehicle prototypes, with responses from invited key transportation stakeholders, including bicycle industry developers, local and state government representatives, service providers seeking vehicles, and sustainable transportation advocates.
* * * * *

RIDE-ON-DINNER
6pm Fri 17 Feb, departing from a secret inner city location
A caravan of bicyclists served a 3-course meal from pedal-powered kitchen vehicles in three different locations over the duration of a 3-hour evening inner-city bike ride. $10 per cyclist. Booking will be essential. More details coming soon.
* * * * *

PARADE AT THE SUSTAINABLE LIVING FESTIVAL
Sat 18 Feb, Federation Square
A parade ride, show and tell of the workshop’s prototype vehicles at the premium public Melbourne festival showcasing sustainability.
* * * * *

How can I get involved?

2005-12-08T22:57:00.000+10:30

HANDS-ON PARTICIPATION IN THE
PEDAL-POWERED VEHICLES WORKSHOP
making pedal-powered work
30 Jan – 17 February 06
Melbourne
- - - - - - - - - - - -
If you'd like to participate in a hands-on way by designing and building prototypes, post a comment here and tell us a few things about yourself,
or
SUBMIT AN EXPRESSION OF INTEREST TO PARTICIPATE
responding to the points below and email to:
mick.douglas@rmit.edu.au

Your Name:
Email address:
Phone:
Address:

1. Tell us what a wonderful person you are and what you’ve been doing:
2. So why do you want to participate in the PPV workshop?
3. What experience do you believe you can contribute to the workshop?
4. Do you have welding & metal working experience? (It is not expected)
If so, please describe (eg: TIG? MIG? Oxy/Aceteline?)
5. Will you be available in mornings only, or could you work into the afternoon if enthusiasm and circumstances permit?
-------------------------------
REMOTE PARTICIPATION
Where ever you are, please do share your expereince, thoughts and ideas with us. Post comments on this blog, send us your own web links, post us cranks and chain! And we'll hope to keep you posted on what we discover along the ride.

1st call for participation

2005-12-08T22:49:00.000+10:30

Participation is invited from people with interest in the field who can contribute to the learning opportunity of the Pedal Powered Vehicles Workshop. In Melbourne you can get involved hands-on for the 3 weeks of 30 Jan to 17 Feb. You might be a designer, bicycle enthusiast and mechanic, a pedal power and sustainability advocate, a new service entrepreneur, or you may simply just tell us why you have to be involved to MAKE PEDAL POWER WORK.

Places in the hands-on workshop are limited.
To express your interest, repond by 'comment' to the posting on this blog called 'How can I get involved'.

More about the PPVW

2005-12-08T22:39:00.000+10:30

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.

What is this workshop?

2005-12-08T22:28:00.000+10:30

Imagine getting a 10 minute open-air ride on a pedicab to get to that meeting at the other side of the city; … or hiring a trailer for your bike from the corner store when you need to move your stuff; … or picking up a fresh crepe from a chef-on-a-bike just at the right time and place; … or just getting your bike repaired by a mechanic who rides his workshop-on-wheels to your home.

There is a broad range of existing and new services that can be fulfilled in more sustainable and enjoyable ways by pedal power.

The Cultural Transports Unit of RMIT University is calling for participation in a Pedal-Powered Vehicles Workshop taking place over 3 weeks in February, in central Melbourne. The workshop has a practical focus on designing and building prototypes of pedal-powered vehicles.

The international team pedalling the workshop includes Indian designer Shreya Gadepalli whose improvements to rickshaws in India and becaks in Indonesia are making big changes to thousands of peoples lives; New York based Matteo Martignoni whose pedal-powered vehicle experience includes aerodynamic land speed record vehicles and amphibious vehicles; and Cultural Transports artist Mick Douglas.

Participation is invited from designers, bicycle enthusiasts and mechanics, pedal power and sustainability advocates, new service entrepreneurs, or anyone who just has to get involved pedalling. Join in to make vehicles and meet people who want to make pedal-power work.

The workshop is being held in the mornings for 3 weeks at RMIT in the city from 30th Jan to 17 Feb. Participants will pay a small materials fee and have use of all the prototypes made.

Places in the workshop are limited. To express your interest, reply by 'comment' to the posting on this blog called 'How can I get involved?'