Replace short car trips with active travel

There are many benefits to substituting short car journeys with active travel, whether that's in terms of physical and mental health, improved air quality or reduced traffic congestion. However, many people still choose to make short journeys in their cars each day:

• In the UK, around 56% of private vehicle (car/van) trips driven are under 5 miles (1)

• In the US, around 59.5% of vehicle trips are under 5 miles (2)
  (NB. 5 miles = 8.05 km)

In a recent analysis by TRL (3) (based on UK National Travel Survey data), it was found that out of 172,911 car trips recorded by participants, 96,345 were single-stage journeys under 8 km, of which (taking mobility issues, age and bicycle access into account): 5,060 trips under 1 km were potentially walkable; and 32,537 trips between 1 km and 8 km were potentially replaceable by cycling. This equates to over 400 km per person per year that could be replaced by walking or cycling.

A number of reasons stop these potential pedestrians and cyclists from leaving their cars behind, among which are perceived longer journey times and lack of safety on roads.

Driving is not always quickest

Over long distances, driving will usually be quicker; but for short trips in cities, walking and cycling have their own benefits. Pedestrians and cyclists (where bike paths permit) can bypass one-way systems, do not have to sit in traffic, and do not need to find parking spaces upon arrival.

In fact, cycling is often the quickest way to get around busy cities (4).

Safety in numbers

While the casualty rates in many countries are higher for pedestrians and cyclists (compared to car passengers), there is evidence that suggests that roads would become safer as the number of pedestrians and cyclists increase. A study on relationship between the numbers of people walking or bicycling and the frequency of collisions (5) found that the probability of a given pedestrian or cyclist being struck by a motor vehicle decreases as the amount of walking or cycling increases. The reasons behind the correlation have not been fully explained, but some possible explanations include:

• Greater awareness
  It is easier to spot a pedestrian or cyclist if you are expecting to see one. Studies on inattentional blindness have shown that humans regularly fail to notice objects that they do not expect to see, consequently, a road user is much more likely to see a pedestrian or cyclist if he/she is expecting to see one.

• Better understanding
  Other road users (due to seeing more pedestrians and cyclists on roads, or due to walking or cycling themselves) are likely to better understand and predict the movement of a pedestrian or cyclist, and therefore react better to their actions.

• Enabling policies and Infrastructure
  A greater number of pedestrians and cyclists could be a result of better infrastructure and pedestrian/cyclist-friendly policies. When the roads are more suited to walking and cycling, they are likely to be safer and as a result, also attract a greater number of pedestrians and cyclists.

Real benefits

The benefits of a mass switch to active travel can also be significant on a population level. A study on Dutch cycling (6) found that cycling prevents about 6,500 deaths in the Netherlands each year, increased the life expectancy of the Dutch people by half-a-year, and estimated that the health benefits translated into economic benefits of €19 billion annually (around 3% of the Netherlands' GDP).

For many journeys, whether it's due to distance, travel time or other considerations, the use of cars may be the only feasible option; but for many shorter journeys, walking and cycling provides a much healthier alternative. Before grabbing your car keys the next time you head out, why not consider taking a short ride or walk instead?

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(1) Department for Transport (2018). NTS0308: Average number of trips by trip length and main mode: England. https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/nts03-modal-comparisons

(2) Federal Highway Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation. National Household Travel Survey, Popular Vehicle Trips Statistics. https://nhts.ornl.gov/vehicle-trips

(3) Smith L, Chowdhury S, Hammond J (2019). Healthy mobility and road safety. TRL PPR865. TRL Limited. ISBN 978-1-912433-51-3. https://trl.co.uk/reports/healthy-mobility-and-road-safety

(4) Forbes (2018). Data from millions of smartphone journeys proves cyclists faster in cities than cars and motorbikes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/carltonreid/2018/11/07/data-from-millions-of-smartphone-journeys-proves-cyclists-faster-in-cities-than-cars-and-motorbikes

(5) Jacobsen PL (2003). Safety in numbers: more walkers and bicyclists, safer walking and bicycling. Injury Prevention 2003;9:205-209. https://injuryprevention.bmj.com/content/9/3/205

(6) Fishman E, Schepers P, Kamphuis CB (2015). Dutch Cycling: Quantifying the Health and Related Economic Benefits. Am J Public Health. 2015;105(8):e13-5. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4504332/

Prototyping update #1 - it works (mostly)!

Some of you may know that we are working on turning TRIG, our award-winning folding bicycle concept, into a real product. After a few months of hard work, we have finally got a prototype of the most complicated part of the bike assembled.

The front half of the frame contains the folding mechanism. When the handle is squeezed, the locks and latches holding the frame in the open position are released, allowing the frame to be folded.

In any case, that's the theory, but how well does it work?

The prototype shows that the working principle is sound and activating the mechanism released the locks and latches as planned - no need to restart from scratch! We are now back at work on a few design modifications to reduce the mechanism’s sensitivity to manufacturing tolerances, further improving the reliability of the design.

In the coming weeks, we will be sending the updated design off to prototype again, and finishing up the rest of the frame. Hopefully the test ride won't be too far away. Stay tuned to find out how we do!

Choosing a bike light

Bike lights greatly improve visibility on roads at night

Winter is approaching in the northern hemisphere and nights are getting longer again. If you are out cycling, one of the most important bits of kit you need to stay visible on the roads are lights!

There is a huge range of bicycle lights to choose from in the market, so how do you go about finding the right set of lights? Below are a few things that we look out for.

Brightness

The exact brightness of lights you will need depends on the roads that you ride. If you only cycle on well-lit roads, a front light producing around 250 lumens should be sufficient; on dimly-lit roads, consider something around 500-700 lumens to illuminate the path ahead. To avoid blinding oncoming road users, we prefer lights that have a shaped beam that reduces the amount of light projected upwards (if these are not available, point the front light a few degrees downwards at the road ahead). Not only is this more considerate, it is also safer for everyone.

Rear lights are gradually getting brighter as well in recent years, although anything with around 70-100 lumens should be bright enough for night time cycling. If your light has a brighter setting, reserve these modes for use as daytime running lights to avoid blinding other road users.

If you plan on riding off-road or in unlit areas, a much brighter front light with a wider lighting pattern may be required to properly illuminate the path in front of you. In such cases, make sure you dim your lights when you get back onto roads to avoid affecting other road users.

Flashing modes

The main purpose of bicycle lights in well-lit urban areas is for you to be seen by other road users. This means that lights need to grab the attention of other road users, and then keep their attention while you are in their vicinity.

Since flashing lights are not used by most road traffic, having a set of lights that flash is a good way to identify yourself as a cyclist. However, we would advise against using overly bright flashes or crazy flashing patterns. While great at grabbing attention initially, it is incredibly difficult to focus on a mass of flashing lights without becoming dazzled. Many road users will simply choose to look away instead, which is definitely not the desired effect.

For our own use, we put a set of secondary lights onto a pulsed flash pattern, and have our main lights set to emit a steady beam so others can more easily focus on our position. Some lights with multiple LEDs can combine the two functions into one unit, which is a useful way to simplify the setup.

Depending on your specific riding conditions, you will need to experiment to find the best lighting setup for yourself.

Viewing angle

Aside from brightness, viewing angle is also very important. All lights will be clearly visible when viewed directly from the front/rear, but their casings might obstruct the light when viewed from an angle, making them almost invisible to road users approaching from the side (for example, at junctions).

When choosing a light, look at them from different angles to check their sideways visibility, and look for designs with rounded light covers, sideways mounted LEDs or transparent strips for improved viewing angles.

Battery life

Lights that run out of power are just deadweight. Make sure your lights will last well past the duration of your entire ride. Modern lights often use lithium ion batteries that can supply high powered lights with hours of battery life.

One characteristic of lithium ion battery-powered lights is that they do not dim (much) as their charge runs down. On the plus side, this means the lights stay useful for longer; on the flip side, this means you don't get any warning before the light suddenly cuts out. We therefore suggest choosing lights with a battery level indicator.

An alternative option is to go for dynamo powered lights, although this is a much more expensive solution. If you don't want to ever worry about battery life, this is something that you may wish to consider.

Other things to consider

Lights get knocked and dropped, so make sure you choose something that is sufficiently tough to handle everyday use. If you cycle enough, you will eventually come across rain, and that's exactly when you don't want your lights to cut out, so make sure whichever light you choose has good water resistance too.

Good lights are also a prime target for thieves (annoying $@#%!!). Make sure you select lights that can be easily removed so you can take them with you when leaving your bike.

Remember…

Any light is better than no lights, so even if you cannot find a perfect set, make sure you have something that you can use in the meantime.

TRIG receives a Red Dot Award

We are delighted to be awarded a Red Dot Award: Design Concept for the TRIG folding bicycle. It is an honour to have our design recognised by a jury of international designers and experts in mobility.

TRIG is our first project in the bid to make city life more enjoyable. The urban commute is a major source of stress for many and we hope that our design can provide a means for travellers to turn their daily commute into something enjoyable, healthy and clean.

We have designed the TRIG folding bicycle to be a viable alternative to the private car and public transport for short to medium distance commuting so that users can avoid the traffic and crowds. With a focus on ride quality while ensuring the folded package is easy to handle and small enough to store indoors, we hope to make the switch to cycle commuting easier physically and logistically, so more people can take up cycling as a means of urban travel.

Our team is now working hard to turn this design concept into a physical product. Check out the rest of our website to find out more and subscribe to our mailing list to stay informed of our progress.

Cycle commuting is easier than you think

If you have never cycle commuted before, the idea may seem daunting. It was certainly the case for us, though after the first day any apprehension quickly turned into excitement. Here are a few reasons why you might want to give it a go.

It is (probably) closer than you think

According to data from Moovit, the average commuting distance at the 130 cities it monitors is just 7 km each way, so there's a good chance you don't live that far away from work/school/wherever you commute to. Travelling at a very leisurely 15km/h (9mph), this is less than a 30 minute ride!

Cycling is not always hard work

Just how much work is cycling at 15km/h? That depends on a lot of things - there are a number of bicycle speed and power calculators online where you can get a rough idea of the work required.

Assuming that you have a properly functioning bike on relatively flat terrain, you are unlikely to need much more than 100W of power - that's roughly equivalent to a brisk walk. As you get fitter every day, this will become even easier to maintain; or you could choose to go a little harder and decrease your journey time instead.

It may be the quickest way to travel

Depending on the distance, riding directly to your destination can be the quickest way to get there. There's no need to walk to the nearest station or drive to the nearest car park, and you are unlikely to be stuck in traffic no matter the time of day. An interesting tool over at TravelTime allows you to compare the distance you can cover over a period of time using various modes of transport.

It is good for your health

Cycle commuting comes with many health benefits too. Research has shown that cycle commuting reduces the risk of various diseases and also results in far lower stress levels in comparison with driving and taking public transport. And not only will you be benefitting yourself, switching to a bicycle will help to keep your city's air cleaner.

It is a refreshing experience

Overall, we find that cycling is a good way to get an immersive experience of a city. Everything feels different when you are not sitting in a metal box, and you can physically connect with the environment you are travelling through. You also get a chance to notice other people and things in the city that you might miss otherwise.

Ready to go?

Before you set off, make sure you check that your bike is in good condition and have your route planned out. We hope you will enjoy it as much as we do!

Prototyping with 3D printing and investment casting

Computer-aided design (CAD) allows us to go much further in the design process from our desks than ever, but eventually there comes a point where we have to make real parts for testing. This used to be a painful process as one-off production was time consuming and costs were high. Luckily for us, we are living in modern times.

Unless you have been living under a rock for the past few years, you will have heard of 3D printing. This additive manufacturing technique has become very widespread and has even made its way into some homes. A 3D printer manufactures a part by creating it layer by layer - a bit like laying bricks for a house, only these are tiny micron-scale bricks.

3D printing allows for intricate parts to be created with ease, even parts that cannot be produced with other techniques.  It also allows us to easily make prototype parts from our CAD models without any tooling, which would become wasted if any later modifications are required (note: modifications are always required).

There is just one problem; we need parts in metal. To fuse the deposited materials together to form a part, a 3D printer needs to heat the deposited material so that it sticks to the previously laid material; with metals, this requires a lot of heat, which not only means a high electricity bill, but also other complications (such as thermal expansion) that needs to be controlled. All this means that 3D printing metal is insanely expensive.

Fortunately, a solution is readily available, and it is a centuries old technique called investment casting. Investment casting typically works by coating a wax pattern in ceramic, then after the ceramic hardens, the wax is melted out leaving a ceramic mould ready for casting the metal part. After casting, the ceramic mould is destroyed to remove the part.

By combining the two techniques, we can 3D print a part in plastic and have it used as the pattern for investment casting - the end result is a fully functional metal part without any one-off tooling costs!

Being able to make prototype parts this way has many benefits: the process is much quicker as no tooling is required, and this also means that the one-off manufacturing cost is lower. This means we are able to test more parts, run more iterations to make improvements if necessary, and produce a much better quality end-product.

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What are you doing for our next generation?

Last Sunday (12 August) was International Youth Day - a day designated by the UN for the "annual celebration of the role of young women and men as essential partners in change, and an opportunity to raise awareness of challenges and problems facing the world’s youth." 

This got us thinking, not only about the problems facing the world's youth, but also about the problems facing the youth's world.

It's getting hot in here…

A recent study (1) showed what our future generations may face if we allow our climate to run into a "Hothouse Earth" pathway. The paper itself is quite a long read, but essentially, if we allow our planet's temperature to continue to rise above a tipping point (around 2 degrees above pre-industrial levels), the Earth's self-stabilising (temperature regulating) feedback loops may be broken, and temperatures will spiral out of our control, leading to much more variable and potentially extreme climates.

As noted by the authors, "Hothouse Earth is likely to be uncontrollable and dangerous to many… and it poses severe risks for health, economies, political stability (especially for the most climate vulnerable), and ultimately, the habitability of the planet for humans."

Staying in control

Given the current rate of change, sticking to the Paris Accord targets might only just be sufficient to keep our Earth under control. The authors noted 3 main ways to do this: reduce greenhouse gas emissions; sink more carbon (e.g. protect forests and plant trees); and change the Earth's energy balance. While the latter options are not something we can all do, reducing emissions is definitely something all of us can contribute to, and we needn't sacrifice our quality of life to do this.

Transportation accounts for around 14% of global greenhouse gas emissions globally (and much higher in some countries) (2), and we can have a significant impact simply by being smart about how we choose to get around cities. Small changes, such as cycling, walking, or taking public transport instead of driving, can all help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. There is even a multitude of benefits to be gained from being more active.

Safe Spaces for Youth

This year's International Youth Day focussed on "Safe Spaces for Youth" - places where young people can come together to pursue their needs and interests, and where they can feel safe to be themselves - and we think that this needs to include a safe habitat for them to live in too. After all, what use is it for our next generations to feel safe expressing themselves if they are not safe from their environment?

While we can't profess to have made any difference yet, we have set our goals to make cities more enjoyable, healthier and cleaner by providing the tools to allow people to change the way they move around.

How about you? What are you doing for our next generation?

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References:

(1) Steffen W, Rockström J, Richardson K, Lenton TM, Folke C, Liverman D, Summerhayes CP, Barnosky AD, Cornell SE, Crucifix M, Donges JF, Fetzer I, Lade SJ, Scheffer M, Winkelmann R, Schellnhuber HJ (2018) Trajectories of the Earth System in the Anthropocene. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Aug 2018, 201810141. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1810141115
(2) Contribution of Working Group III to the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [Edenhofer, O., R. Pichs-Madruga, Y. Sokona, E. Farahani, S. Kadner, K. Seyboth, A. Adler, I. Baum, S. Brunner, P. Eickemeier, B. Kriemann, J. Savolainen, S. Schlömer, C. von Stechow, T. Zwickel and J.C. Minx (eds.)] (2014) Climate Change 2014: Mitigation of Climate Change. IPCC, 2014. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, United Kingdom and New York, NY, USA. https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar5/wg3/

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Drive less for cleaner air in your city

Nitrous oxide levels during RideLondon events. Data from London Air (1)

Last weekend, road closures for RideLondon 2018 gave us the chance to see the impacts of motorised vehicles on air pollution. The event, in its sixth edition this year, closed off many roads to motorised vehicles in central London for the day, and the results were significant.

While modern cars may have low emission levels individually, the sheer number of vehicles on the road means that this small number adds up to a significant level quickly (e.g. The Strand, where the pollution data was taken, had an annual average daily flow (AADF) of 22,750 motor vehicles in 2017 (2)).

As can be clearly seen in the chart, the levels of nitrous oxides (NOx) were significantly lower than the average level during hours where the roads were closed for the event, showing just how much difference can be made by switching away from motorised vehicles.

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NOx, apart from being an irritant at high concentrations, reacts to form smog, acid rain, and leads to the formation of fine particulate matter and ozone at ground level.

In London, emissions from roads account for 58% of NOx emissions in the city (3).

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If you want the air in your city to be cleaner, you can easily contribute by switching to an active mode of transport, and choosing only to drive when absolutely necessary. Being active added health benefits too!

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(1) London Air, King's College London, http://www.londonair.org.uk
(2) Traffic Counts, Department for Transport, https://www.dft.gov.uk/traffic-counts
(3) City of London Air Quality Strategy 2015, https://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/business/environmental-health/environmental-protection/air-quality/Documents/city-of-london-air-quality-strategy-2015.pdf

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Designers vs engineers: a designer's perspective

Designers and engineers often think and act very differently

In product design, designers and engineers often get along like oil and water. Designers say, “Engineers have no aesthetic sense. How can products be attractive without us?” On the other hand, engineers say, “Designers are dreamers without restraint. Without us, how can products be created?”

As designers chase after the most visually pleasing results and engineers push for the most functional solutions, the two seem to be completely incompatible. But which is more important? Should a design prioritise form or function? Who is more important: the designer or the engineer? Who should be responsible for the birth of a new product?

The nature of a product

Let us start by looking at technically simple(r) products, such as many household items. Fundamental technologies in these products tend to already be in existence, and almost all competing products can fulfil all user requirements. Therefore, the key differentiating features are in aesthetics, stylistic choices, materials and ergonomics; these lie squarely in the domain of designers. Round one to the designers then.

On the other hand, as technology gets more deeply ingrained into our daily lives, more and more “hi-tech” products flood our markets. While these products feature exciting, stylish and futuristic exteriors, they also give us innovative new features and continuously improving functionality. It is important to remember that such products often arrive from the results of technical R&D and are then packaged in a way that would suit the market. In terms of the value added to such products, engineers no doubt take the lead. Round two to the engineers.

Let us take a look at luxury products next, those products that have high quality, great styling, and an aura of prestige attached to them. To achieve the level of quality and performance expected of a luxury item demands excellence in every aspect of its engineering and manufacturing. At the same time, a luxury product is also viewed as a work of art, emanating a sense of character and a visual appeal to those who see it. A true luxury item needs to excel in both form and function to stand out from the ranks of competitors, making both designers and engineers indispensable in their development.

Truthfully, the relative contributions of designers and engineers, while highly dependent on product type, are both significant in product development.

Product development cycles

Since we cannot find a winner by looking at products alone, let us take a look at the longer cycle of product development for a more complete picture.

To meet user requirements, engineers develop new technologies for new products, while designers take these technologies, give them character, make them user-friendly and attractive. As time moves on, user requirements change, and the engineers need to develop more technologies to meet the new demands while the designers continue to try new methods to bring excitement to users.

The history of product development reflects the progression of our society, and this cycle of product innovation and development has continued to improve our lives. Engineers created product functions that makes lives easier; designers changed product interactions to bring more colours into peoples’ lives.

In reality, designers and engineers are not rivals; they are the perfect partners in making this world we live in a better place.

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Selecting a route for cycle commuting

The route that you take on your commute greatly affects how much you will enjoy your journey. Choosing the right route could save you time, make the journey easier (or harder, if you want to put in some exercise at the same time), and most importantly, help you stay safe on the roads.

This is how we usually go about choosing our commuting route.

Step 1: Work out where the destination is

We always start by checking out our destination on a map. While we may know the streets, seeing it on a map gives a different perspective. Work out where the destination is and how far away it is. Just launch your favourite map for this.

Step 2: Choose a suitable route

While most map sites/apps will provide a usable route, especially if where you live has bicycle route information, we prefer more dedicated sites that have information on route popularity so we can choose more popular routes (especially for rides we haven't done before).

These routes are usually popular for a reason, though it can be hard to tell why until you try them out. Having others cycling alongside you will also be good moral support, plus other vehicles will be more accustomed to seeing a cyclist on these stretches of roads. 

To find popular routes, we use Strava's Route Builder or Heat Map. Either use the popularity toggle or look at the most popular segments when you are choosing the route. At the end of the session, you should have a few possible route options with route information (distance, elevation) and estimated ride time.

Step 3: Time for a test run

No plan survives contact with reality, so it is time to try out the newly planned route! Leave extra time in case something unexpected comes up.

While testing out the route, watch out for possible alternatives, such as cycle paths, side roads and shortcuts not marked on maps.

More importantly, be aware of things that you would want to avoid. These may include potential dangers (e.g. narrow, fast roads with no shoulder, poor road surfaces, tricky junctions...) or simply things that you dislike (e.g. traffic lights, regular start-stop traffic, steep hills...)

Keep a mental list of all these so you can go back and optimise the route.

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Don't take unnecessary risks!

If at any point you do not feel safe enough to continue, it may be time to bail out. Always know what alternative options you have to get home.

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Step 4: Do it again

With the newly acquired knowledge, we are now better informed to make improvements to the route. Repeat steps 2 and 3 until you end up with a route that you like. You may find that the best route is different in each direction.

Road conditions change over time, so the route planning exercise may need to be revisited every so often. Also, beware of temporary changes, such as road works and diversions, that may cause issues on the roads. You can plan ahead by tuning in to local news and traffic announcements, and also consider joining local transportation groups (if there are any) to get advice on alternative travel routes.

Finally…

Don't forget to enjoy your ride!

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A ratings system for bicycle helmet safety, finally!

There is no clear correlation between helmet safety and cost. Data from Virginia Tech: https://www.beam.vt.edu/helmet/bicycle-helmet-ratings.html

If you cycle or plan on cycling, you should invest in a helmet. Impacts to the head can cause serious injury, and having a helmet will give you much needed protection just in case. But how should you go about choosing a helmet?

All commercially available helmets meet a standard of safety (e.g. EN 1078 in the EU, CPSC standard in the US, etc.), but beyond the minimum requirement, there was little evidence to suggest which helmets offer the best protection, until now.

Following an extended period of research, Virginia Tech has released a ratings system for bicycle helmets (https://vtnews.vt.edu/articles/2018/06/ictas-bikehelmetratings.html). An initial set of 30 helmets is tested, and more are planned to be added in the future. Of the helmets tested, four obtained the highest 5-star rating, while two managed only an "adequate" 2-star rating. The rest fell in the 3-star and 4-star range.

While the sample size is small, it is clear that price is not a good indicator of helmet safety.  Helmets become more expensive not because they overachieve on safety - some are more aerodynamic, some are lighter, and some are better ventilated for head cooling. Simply spending more money will not guarantee that you have bought a safer helmet. On the other hand, that means that it is possible to get a 5-star rated helmet for as little as US$75.

There are other things to consider as well while choosing a helmet. Whatever the safety rating, the helmet that offers the best protection is the one that is on your head, which means it is important to choose a helmet that you would actually wear. Be sure to try out helmets for fit and comfort before buying.

You can find the full set of bicycle helmet ratings at https://www.beam.vt.edu/helmet/bicycle-helmet-ratings.html

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Why we should choose to be active

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"Regular physical activity is one of the most important things you can do for your health." ___Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

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Regular physical activity lowers the risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, stroke, high blood pressure and some cancers, improves sleep, controls stress, and helps to keep body weight in check. But being active regularly can be tough.

City life is busy, and whether we are at work or at play, squeezing in time for exercise can be difficult. Luckily, to reap the benefits of being active does not require training for an Ironman. One easy way to get a regular dose of exercise is to turn your commute active by walking or cycling (Live too far from work? Turning part of your commute active also has benefits!)

A study by researchers at Glasgow University (1) has found that walking and cycle commuting lowers the risk of cardiovascular disease incidence by 27% and 46% respectively. Additionally, cycle commuting also lowers the risk of cancer incidence by 45% and mortality by any cause by 41%.

Other studies have also concluded that habitual cycling may be associated with a lower risk of type 2 diabetes (2) and have shown that cycling to work can reduce stress and enhance productivity during the day (3).

Taking an active commute has additional benefits too: our journey times are not dictated by traffic conditions or service delays; there's no need to squeeze onto overcrowded transport; and, we think it is more fun too!

As the CDC puts it, "regular physical activity is one of the most important things you can do for your health." Start living an active life today!

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(1) Celis-Morales CA, Lyall DM, Welsh P, Anderson J, Steell L, Guo Y et al. (2017) Association between active commuting and incident cardiovascular disease, cancer, and mortality: prospective cohort study. BMJ 2017;357:j1456. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.j1456
(2) Rasmussen MG, Grøntved A, Blond K, Overvad K, Tjønneland A, et al. (2016) Associations between Recreational and Commuter Cycling, Changes in Cycling, and Type 2 Diabetes Risk: A Cohort Study of Danish Men and Women. PLOS Medicine 13(7): e1002076. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1002076
(3) Brutus S, Javadian R, Panaccio AJ, (2017) "Cycling, car, or public transit: a study of stress and mood upon arrival at work", International Journal of Workplace Health Management, Vol. 10 Issue: 1, pp.13-24, https://doi.org/10.1108/IJWHM-10-2015-0059

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In search of an enjoyable commute

Cities are vibrant, diverse and exciting places, though you'd never be able to tell looking at the faces of commuters every day. Research has shown that whether you drive or take public transport, the act of travelling to and from work each day leads to stress, and we haven't even started taking into account the time we've wasted.

As a team of city dwellers, we want the entire experience - including our daily commute - to be enjoyable. Having lived in many different cities throughout our lives, we know this can be achievable, and one of the best ways to do so is by being active.

Those living too far to walk (i.e. most of us) will require some assistance, and a bicycle can be the perfect tool. The perfect commuter bike should have great ride quality, but also be convenient enough to move around with off the bike and easy to store when not in use. These requirements unfortunately are not well aligned with each other.

Bikes suitable for riding longer distances tend to be large and take up too much room to be stored in city apartments; and since they normally have to be locked up out of sight, we worry about them being stolen whilst at work.

Folding bikes on the other hand were designed for the last mile, with typically small wheels compromising ride quality for size, and realistically need to be used in conjunction with the crowded public transport system (something we wanted to avoid).

What we wanted was a bike that rides well over long distances and small enough to fit under our desks. Sadly, many existing products simply scaled up small folding bikes, making them an ergonomic nightmare when folded.

Since we couldn't find what we wanted, we set out to design our perfect solution instead.

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