Cardboard Bike
03-Jul-2008, 07:33 AM
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Cardboard Bike
Student unveils world's first cardboard bicycle
A design student has developed the prototype of a cardboard bicycle that might one day sell for as little as $30.
Phil Bridge, 21, of Stockport, Greater Manchester, believes his "ultimate green machine" will be cheap enough to attract occasional users while also deterring thieves.
The frame, made out of cardboard normally used in industrial packaging, could be produced for as little as $6.
Once the wheels and chain had been added the total price might rise to only $30.
Mr Bridge, who is studying product design at Sheffield Hallam University, said: "I started by looking at the reasons why people don't use bikes as a mode of transport, and one of the primary reasons I came up with was the initial investment in a bike.
"A typical round town bike can cost several hundred pounds, and that's a large investment for people who aren't sure whether they will use it. The idea of cardboard is to completely devalue the bike".
He went on: "The cardboard for the frame is the material used in industrial packaging. It's very strong and it has a honeycomb core. It's mainly used in partition walling and packaging.
"The prototype does work but it is still quite limited and there are a few problems".
Mr Bridge claims his bike is strong enough to support a rider, so long as he or she weighs under 168 pounds.
Perhaps more crucially, he insists that it is sufficiently robust not to go soft and collapse in the rain.
Wednesday July 2, 2008 - 08:22am (PDT) Permanent Link | 0 Comments
A design student has developed the prototype of a cardboard bicycle that might one day sell for as little as $30.
Phil Bridge, 21, of Stockport, Greater Manchester, believes his "ultimate green machine" will be cheap enough to attract occasional users while also deterring thieves.
The frame, made out of cardboard normally used in industrial packaging, could be produced for as little as $6.
Once the wheels and chain had been added the total price might rise to only $30.
Mr Bridge, who is studying product design at Sheffield Hallam University, said: "I started by looking at the reasons why people don't use bikes as a mode of transport, and one of the primary reasons I came up with was the initial investment in a bike.
"A typical round town bike can cost several hundred pounds, and that's a large investment for people who aren't sure whether they will use it. The idea of cardboard is to completely devalue the bike".
He went on: "The cardboard for the frame is the material used in industrial packaging. It's very strong and it has a honeycomb core. It's mainly used in partition walling and packaging.
"The prototype does work but it is still quite limited and there are a few problems".
Mr Bridge claims his bike is strong enough to support a rider, so long as he or she weighs under 168 pounds.
Perhaps more crucially, he insists that it is sufficiently robust not to go soft and collapse in the rain.
Wednesday July 2, 2008 - 08:22am (PDT) Permanent Link | 0 Comments
04-Jul-2008, 07:37 AM
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06-Jul-2008, 02:05 PM
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