Comments on: Hyping the HyperBike http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/02/14/inroducing-the-hyperbike/ Covering the New York City Streets Renaissance Mon, 23 Nov 2009 19:16:53 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8 hourly 1 By: dreamon http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/02/14/inroducing-the-hyperbike/comment-page-1/#comment-29056 dreamon Fri, 16 Feb 2007 12:34:43 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/02/14/inroducing-the-hyperbike/#comment-29056 seriously cool! the city should get at least a thousand of these things just to attrack tourism. seriously cool! the city should get at least a thousand of these things just to attrack tourism.

]]> By: Eric http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/02/14/inroducing-the-hyperbike/comment-page-1/#comment-28989 Eric Thu, 15 Feb 2007 03:57:40 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/02/14/inroducing-the-hyperbike/#comment-28989 crzwdjk: "if your hyperbike is heading for a cliff or obstacle or whatever, how the hell do you get out?" I'll bet that thing has an escape pod. But seriously, I don't quite think we should be knocking the inventor of a non-polluting, super-fast cycle. crzwdjk: "if your hyperbike is heading for a cliff or obstacle or whatever, how the hell do you get out?"

I'll bet that thing has an escape pod.

But seriously, I don't quite think we should be knocking the inventor of a non-polluting, super-fast cycle.

]]> By: crzwdjk http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/02/14/inroducing-the-hyperbike/comment-page-1/#comment-28988 crzwdjk Thu, 15 Feb 2007 03:17:48 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/02/14/inroducing-the-hyperbike/#comment-28988 "Cyclists are unable to travel safely at the same speed as traffic; neither can they accelerate nor stop as quickly." I've found that, in New York, I can often travel faster than traffic. And as for acceleration, bikes are actually BETTER than cars, first of all because they don't have two tons of metal to accelerate, and second, because internal combustion engines have rather low power output at zero speed. Oh and finally, if your hyperbike is heading for a cliff or obstacle or whatever, how the hell do you get out? "Cyclists are unable to travel safely at the same speed as traffic; neither can they accelerate nor stop as quickly."

I've found that, in New York, I can often travel faster than traffic. And as for acceleration, bikes are actually BETTER than cars, first of all because they don't have two tons of metal to accelerate, and second, because internal combustion engines have rather low power output at zero speed. Oh and finally, if your hyperbike is heading for a cliff or obstacle or whatever, how the hell do you get out?

]]> By: rhubarbpie http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/02/14/inroducing-the-hyperbike/comment-page-1/#comment-28965 rhubarbpie Wed, 14 Feb 2007 19:35:24 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/02/14/inroducing-the-hyperbike/#comment-28965 I love this! You're all right: it probably won't catch on, and there are a lot of questions about it. But why not take back the road in a even more dramatic way? Think about it. A couple of these could jam up automobile traffic more quickly than the entire Time's Up rides. I love this! You're all right: it probably won't catch on, and there are a lot of questions about it. But why not take back the road in a even more dramatic way? Think about it. A couple of these could jam up automobile traffic more quickly than the entire Time's Up rides.

]]> By: Glenn http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/02/14/inroducing-the-hyperbike/comment-page-1/#comment-28964 Glenn Wed, 14 Feb 2007 19:26:51 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/02/14/inroducing-the-hyperbike/#comment-28964 The great distances must only apply to flat areas. How much does that thing weigh? I would not want to try to move that thing uphill...or even manage it downhill... The great distances must only apply to flat areas. How much does that thing weigh? I would not want to try to move that thing uphill...or even manage it downhill...

]]> By: Chris Morfas http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/02/14/inroducing-the-hyperbike/comment-page-1/#comment-28961 Chris Morfas Wed, 14 Feb 2007 19:06:30 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/02/14/inroducing-the-hyperbike/#comment-28961 Yes, the Hyperbike is preposterous. Yes, autos of course pose the vast majority of whatever serious dangers bicyclists face. But don't discount bike design as a deterrent to increased bicycling. Watch for the "crank forward" design to steadily grow in popularity as people seek more comfort from their steeds. My Electra Townie has brought new joy to my daily bicycling, and I'm going to explore the more performance-oriented models that Rans is now producing. Well worth a look. (The linked site is commerical in nature. I am a longstanding Rans customer but have no other connection to them.) Yes, the Hyperbike is preposterous. Yes, autos of course pose the vast majority of whatever serious dangers bicyclists face.

But don't discount bike design as a deterrent to increased bicycling. Watch for the "crank forward" design to steadily grow in popularity as people seek more comfort from their steeds. My Electra Townie has brought new joy to my daily bicycling, and I'm going to explore the more performance-oriented models that Rans is now producing. Well worth a look.

(The linked site is commerical in nature. I am a longstanding Rans customer but have no other connection to them.)

]]> By: Dormer http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/02/14/inroducing-the-hyperbike/comment-page-1/#comment-28958 Dormer Wed, 14 Feb 2007 18:32:32 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/02/14/inroducing-the-hyperbike/#comment-28958 This thing is ridiculous! First of all, where are you going to store the 8 ft. high, 200 lb. monstrosity? And who wants to "travel great distances at top speeds" while standing the whole time. "The conventional bicycle is unstable and dangerous on the road." Does this guy ride a bike?! "The rider is vulnerable in traffic no matter how experienced. It is the height of danger to be balanced on two inch-wide tires with nothing between the driver and road objects." This argument doesn't address the fact that it is the motorists who are dangerous to cyclist, not the bikes. "Cyclists are unable to travel safely at the same speed as traffic." A fit cyclist in city traffic can keep up and even pass traffic up to about 25 mph. A fully faired recumbent can travel at 50 mph on level ground (the world record is close to 80 mph). What happens if you get a flat tire? The Hyperbike is totally impractical. This thing is ridiculous! First of all, where are you going to store the 8 ft. high, 200 lb. monstrosity? And who wants to "travel great distances at top speeds" while standing the whole time.

"The conventional bicycle is unstable and dangerous on the road."

Does this guy ride a bike?!

"The rider is vulnerable in traffic no matter how experienced. It is the height of danger to be balanced on two inch-wide tires with nothing between the driver and road objects."

This argument doesn't address the fact that it is the motorists who are dangerous to cyclist, not the bikes.

"Cyclists are unable to travel safely at the same speed as traffic."

A fit cyclist in city traffic can keep up and even pass traffic up to about 25 mph. A fully faired recumbent can travel at 50 mph on level ground (the world record is close to 80 mph).

What happens if you get a flat tire? The Hyperbike is totally impractical.

]]> By: brent http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/02/14/inroducing-the-hyperbike/comment-page-1/#comment-28957 brent Wed, 14 Feb 2007 18:24:50 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/02/14/inroducing-the-hyperbike/#comment-28957 The fact that bikes are unsafe is not because of a design flaw with the bicyle. It is a flaw in street design and public attitude. The fact that bikes are unsafe is not because of a design flaw with the bicyle. It is a flaw in street design and public attitude.

]]> By: Orcutt http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/02/14/inroducing-the-hyperbike/comment-page-1/#comment-28954 Orcutt Wed, 14 Feb 2007 18:01:07 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/02/14/inroducing-the-hyperbike/#comment-28954 This should really grab the mainstream and get Americans out of their cars. This should really grab the mainstream and get Americans out of their cars.

]]> By: alex http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/02/14/inroducing-the-hyperbike/comment-page-1/#comment-28952 alex Wed, 14 Feb 2007 17:45:05 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/02/14/inroducing-the-hyperbike/#comment-28952 But trying to park the hyper bike would probably be worse than trying to park a car. But trying to park the hyper bike would probably be worse than trying to park a car.

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