News Archives - April 2013

A Smart electric bicycle

Given that its price, range and usability makes an electric bicycle the most practical option for those wanting the benefits of a battery-powered vehicle today, it’s perhaps surprising that only 25,000 were sold here last year – less than one per cent of all bikes sold in Britain. However, these relatively modest sales could be a thing of the past…

Poster showing pair of eyes slashes bike thefts by over half

Bicycle theft can be significantly reduced by placing large photos of staring eyes above bike racks, research by Newcastle University has found. The two-year experiment, which was conducted on campus grounds, resulted in a reduction in theft of 62%. And there was also a noticeable difference in places without the signs, where bike theft went up by 63%, suggesting that…

Bicycle road rage attack exposes double standards

Figures released this week suggest Britain is an increasingly peaceful society, but assault by a complete stranger is still occurs with alarming regularity, especially on the road. Friction between cyclists and motorists has occurred since cars first took to the roads and now a growing number attach cameras to their bikes and helmets to record evidence if they are hit…

Ultimate urban bicycle: 15ft tall and ready to roll

Roads have a social hierarchy of their own; generally speaking, the bigger the vehicle the more superior the attitude of the driver, but if you want to be as lofty as possible, ride a bicycle. A 15-ft tall bicycle. Richie Trimball created STOOPIDTALL for the CicLAvia event earlier this year in Los Angeles and as a dry run for an…

Air-filled bicycle seats

Clever innovation or just hot air? A new design of pneumatic bicycle seat aims to solve the problem of numbness and discomfort once and for all. A lot of rubbish is talked about bicycle seats and it’s usually because someone is trying to pedal a revolutionary new design. Although there’s much to be said for choosing a design that suits…