Save the planet – dump your bike and use a YikeBike
Posted on November 3rd, 2009 by thebiggarlic
I’ve always found that when I use a conventional bike for commuting I end up eating more than I would normally. I’ve also wondered how that would affect the greenness of biking and thanks to the good work of Justin Lemire-Elmore I now know. "Despite the intuitive sense that electric bikes would require more resources than regular bikes, life-cycle analysis shows that they actually consume 2-4 times less primary energy than human riders eating a conventional diet." I’m guessing that conclusion will be hard to swallow for some. It could be that if your exercise requirements exactly match when you need to transport yourself around then this analysis wouldn’t necessarily pan out – unfortunately most folks don’t lead such idealized lives.
By the way we don’t really want you to dump your bike. We love our bikes too but just wanted to prod the nerve of those who can be a little sensitive about how great bikes are.... If you compare a YikeBikes environmental foot print to a car then there just is no comparison. When you go from place to place instead of taking a 1500kg machine with you the YikeBike is only 10 kg. No degree in rocket science required to see the vast benefits to the environment.
Now a YikeBike doesn't necessarily replace a car but it may well mean that a family can get by with one less or someone living in certral city or near a train station has less need to own one. I typically use my YikeBike more to replace car trips than bike trips. When I have a set of meetings in town it is quicker and easier to get around on the YikeBike and less hassle because of parking and not getting stuck in traffic.
Comments
Fantastic invention dude........
Keep it up..!
I don't know where you're getting your figures, but a 160 pound cyclist is burning about 35 calories per mile traveled in a 10 mile trip. That's about 150 fewer calories than a bagel with butter.
And if your YikeBike uses rare earth metals, it's driving up the cost of those materials. Rare earth metals are, umm... rare. Toyota had trouble meeting production of the Prius because of lack of Lanthanum.
Finally--the US is a country where 60% of the adults are overweight or obese. Maybe it's a GOOD IDEA for them to turn some pedals once in awhile!!!
We are just quoting another report....This article is a little tongue in cheek but pointing out e-bikes are very environmentally friendly too.
This thing is cool! Where I bike for the exercise I'm not even going to analyze the bike vs. Yike green stats. Either is better than a car...even my Prius.
Can't wait to see this in the US.
It's great.
But as a student i can not afford that price.
And i will explain exactly what i mean by that. Ridiculous is, that you focus attention on amount of "surplus" food we will eat after we drive regular bike. But isn't it our benefit to ride regular bike and to keep our physical shape? I think, people who use (regular) bikes, will not refuse to stay in shape this way. And i don't think we should reject our sport activities just to fight with starvation on our planet. This is why i think your argument about calories and food isn't appropriating.
But i like this YikeBike, don't get me wrong. It can be a perfect solution when you don't want to put any efforts and to remain "without sweat" when you need to get somewhere inside city :)
Regards,
Sasha
send me one, I'll drive it aqround seattle and the microsoft campus,, huge hit...
fantastic invention, freedon important
Yours is the BEST invention since the wheel. I LOVE you Grant!!
This is really a nice procuct.
I hope lots of people will buy it. Maybe this allows you to develop other e-bike or e-motorbike products.
I feel sorry that I work too far away from home when I see this yike. I'm fed up with public transport in Belgium. I take my combustion motorscooter to go to work if the weather allows me to.
I was looking for an electrical alternative, but 90 km a day at a reasonable speed is still a problem if you want to avoid traffic.
This is such a great idea. A perfect example of what direction our thinking efforts should point to. practical, environment friendly solutions.
You need to get one of these into the next James Bond film! Huge publicity opportunity.
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