Smarter bicycles
There are new applications and devices that encourage users to get moving on the “greener” means of transportation. Uruguay is not the exception
The digital era has forced the good old bike to reinvent itself. If 2014 is the year for taking things to the Internet level, this means of transportation is one of them. It may be connected to the network, to the cell phone of the user and to a whole community. It can send text messages, give directions, warn on street dangers and even alert when a thief is trying to take it.
Uruguay is currently part of a social project. It is namedBikestorming, a project that was born in Argentina in 2012 and that already obtained the necessary funding to be launched into the market later this year. The team, which includes Uruguayans, carried out a first experience in Uruguayan inland cities, chosen as testing “laboratory”.
Bikestorming consists of a mobile application framed within a broader proposal, which includes workshops to promote the use of the bike to commute in the city, focused on young people.
The application, which will be available for iOS, Android, Windows Phone, Firefox OS, and even XOs from Plan Ceibal, invites users to join a Bikestorming community based on its own data and data from others. It would be something like aWaze for bicycles, as the users are the ones who add the information. The difference is that, as it is aimed at bikers, it includes information which is relevant for bikers such as steep streets, etc.
According to the release of the organization, which in April gathered almost 500 high-schoolers in Carmelo for a workshop, they intendto activate the app in several cities of the country in the next months. Eventually, the platform could work on any part of the world. The application also provides “missions” for users to obtain medals and the possibility of sharing their achievements with friends and other bikestormers.
All for bikes
Some developers went beyond the application and preferred to modify the lock, the handlebar or even the whole bicycle. In fact, there are three different projects that were or currently are in Kickstarter, the crowdfunding site. All of them received more money than they were requesting to bring their idea to life, what proves the interest in this kind of projects.
Lock8, available for USD249, is a bike lock which provides an e-key in a free Lock8 application available only for iOS. The user can lock it or unlock it by simply touching the smartphone, which needs to be synchronized with the app. This app sends a push notification when the device detects that somebody is trying to break it and allows you to follow the bike with GPS in the event it is stolen. Moreover, a loud alarm is activated when it detects movements or vibrations while locked.
As the lock can be unlocked remotely by using a cell phone, it makes it easier for owners to lend it to their friends or even rent it.
Another project funded by Kickstarter is Ride Helios, a smart handlebar for bikes that costs USD334, including shipping. It includes LED lights as turn signals, GPS tracker, speedometer and Bluetooth connectivity with Helios Connect iOS application.
The application allows to monitor the bike “from anywhere in the world”, according to the website of the project, and to find the best route through Google Maps. It is not necessary to have a smartphone in order to use the GPS tracking function; simply send a text message to the bike and you will receive an answer with its location.
Vanhawks Valour is another Kickstarter project which has already met its initial goal, doubling up on its USD100, 000 target when there are still 21 days of crowdfunding left. It works as an iOS, Android and Pebble application that measures physical activity and allows tracking by maps and connecting with Valour community to exchange data.
The project includes the bike itself which is made of carbonfibre and is shipped to the user that invests at least USD999 through the crowdfunding platform.
It has sensors to detect threats in your blind spots and it alerts the user through vibrations on the handlebars. It uses LED lights to give directions and it charges up as you pedal.
All in all, these tools give you extra reasons to take your bike out of the storehouse and start pedalling.
In Uruguay
Bikestorming project, created by young Uruguayans and Argentineans, includes a social application to promote the use of bikes for urban commuting. Uruguay was picked as laboratory for launching the pilot application later this year.
Lea la versión en español.
Bikestorming Alpha from mati kalwill on Vimeo.
