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Bicycles are among the most efficient energy conversion systems human-kind has ever invented .. the difference between a single lever (which, after all, is stil

Bicycles are among the most efficient energy conversion systems human-kind has ever invented .. the difference between a single lever (which, after all, is still an option with the existing design) and a bicycle lever/gear system, means all the difference in the world when the calories are, already, a regular daily concern for the target user. Plus, it gives the bikes utility when they're not being rented, since the rental bays often take up space in areas accessible to the homeless, its also quite convenient for the target users.

extraduder_ire 3y ago
This doesn't use the gear system though. (aside from the large front sprocket driving the smaller one on the device) I'm quite surprised it can be built for £3, unless the battery is incredibly small.
- helpfulContrib 3y ago
  I believe there is also a social element to this, as it is rather an unfortunately overlooked detail that bike-rental bays are often installed by businesses throughout metropolitan regions as a means of discouraging the homeless, who cannot afford to use these devices, which storage after all consumes public space .. giving the homeless a way to extract value from things is, in my opinion, an admirably placed bit of design altruism, and I, for one, hope to see many more examples of this kind of thinking. I have often wondered what sort of conversion it would take to use an AK47 and a box of ammo to drill a well/pump water, instead of suppress human beings.. transformative technology is highly interesting, don't you agree? >I'm quite surprised it can be built for £3, unless the battery is incredibly small. Herein lies the rub - can the homeless build these things for £1 a piece, somewhere in London? Because if the answer is more oil-based traffic across the worlds oceans to get these things made, I'm afraid the irony of the builder/user distinction is rather unfortunate...
- SV_BubbleTime 3y ago
  That cost would be at a volume no one would ever produce this at.
  - Brian_K_White 3y ago
    Well, the volume could possibly exist if it weren't limited to one city, or one model of bike.
    - SV_BubbleTime 3y ago
      No, it couldn’t. This is all very dumb, it’s a fantasy product with no effective use targeting a population that didn’t ask or want it, done so that everyone can say it’s great which makes them feel like they are good people.
      - Brian_K_White 3y ago
        Yes the specific object is dumb, both because it's design has holes, and because there are better ways to get it's ultimate function. But the market for something like that is not limited to the exact specific population of homeless in London. A thing like that could be produced in the volume necessary to get economy of scale, simply by not being limited to one city and a single particular model of bike, or even limited to the homeless for that matter. If you don't understand that, then you are in a poor position from which to call anyone else dumb.

extraduder_ire 3y ago

This doesn't use the gear system though. (aside from the large front sprocket driving the smaller one on the device) I'm quite surprised it can be built for £3, unless the battery is incredibly small.

helpfulContrib 3y ago
I believe there is also a social element to this, as it is rather an unfortunately overlooked detail that bike-rental bays are often installed by businesses throughout metropolitan regions as a means of discouraging the homeless, who cannot afford to use these devices, which storage after all consumes public space .. giving the homeless a way to extract value from things is, in my opinion, an admirably placed bit of design altruism, and I, for one, hope to see many more examples of this kind of thinking. I have often wondered what sort of conversion it would take to use an AK47 and a box of ammo to drill a well/pump water, instead of suppress human beings.. transformative technology is highly interesting, don't you agree? >I'm quite surprised it can be built for £3, unless the battery is incredibly small. Herein lies the rub - can the homeless build these things for £1 a piece, somewhere in London? Because if the answer is more oil-based traffic across the worlds oceans to get these things made, I'm afraid the irony of the builder/user distinction is rather unfortunate...
SV_BubbleTime 3y ago
That cost would be at a volume no one would ever produce this at.
- Brian_K_White 3y ago
  Well, the volume could possibly exist if it weren't limited to one city, or one model of bike.
  - SV_BubbleTime 3y ago
    No, it couldn’t. This is all very dumb, it’s a fantasy product with no effective use targeting a population that didn’t ask or want it, done so that everyone can say it’s great which makes them feel like they are good people.
    - Brian_K_White 3y ago
      Yes the specific object is dumb, both because it's design has holes, and because there are better ways to get it's ultimate function. But the market for something like that is not limited to the exact specific population of homeless in London. A thing like that could be produced in the volume necessary to get economy of scale, simply by not being limited to one city and a single particular model of bike, or even limited to the homeless for that matter. If you don't understand that, then you are in a poor position from which to call anyone else dumb.