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Cycle Bus
Like a mobile gym, with a big flywheel. | |
Like a bus - but instead of the engine a flywheel, and seats with pedals which connect to a drive-shaft, which (via a clutch mechanism) drives the fly wheel.
The bus driver would control another clutch which would engage and disengage the drive-wheels as needed.
QRN in Bretzelburg
http://van.wessem.net/qrn.jpg Pedal powered bus in comic book "QRN in Bretzelburg" by Franquin, 1966 [jmvw, Jul 06 2006]
Fietscafe (cycling bar)
http://www.fietscafe.nl/engels/index.html Even better than mere transport: beer included! [Forthur, Jul 06 2006]
Cycle Van
http://www.conferencebike.com/ [kinemojo, Dec 18 2006]
Pedalbus
http://www.doodoo.r...ile=article&sid=413 [2 fries shy of a happy meal, Dec 21 2006]
[link]
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Consider the power available, and the resulting "performance" of the bus. |
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so everyone on the bus is pedalling? would work well at peak hour, but what a pain if you were the last off on a long ride home. |
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Keep a conventional engine as a backup, and I'd be in favour... or a battery, or something. |
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There was a pedal powered bus in the comic book "QRN in Bretzelburg" by Franquin, from 1966. See the link. |
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In the depressed country that the story is about, there is no money for fuel. The bus has a drummer to "motivate" the passengers and there's a elderly lady who is upset that our young hero the amateur radio operator, who doesn't yet know the bus is pedal powered, does not take her seat from her. |
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This bus has normal gearing and the passengers have to work very hard so they can shift up. |
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So, damn. It's kinda baked. But I like the idea. Aww, frog it. [+] |
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Damn, [jmvw], that's great. Did you google for that or read it when it was new? I'm impressed. |
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It's baked in reality too, and in a way that's way better than mere transportation: the cycling bar (see link). I've seen it in operation a few times, and can say it seems very fun. And you don't have to worry you're the only one on the vehicle either... |
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normzone: no googling was involved. I have that one from when I was a child. Franquin's books are cool, lots of inventions. |
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"Hey, this guy isn't peddling! He's just pretending too and letting us do all the work!!" |
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I knew there had to be one, I just had to search the right word. |
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