Originally Posted by
I-Like-To-Bike
Anyone want to take a stab at an estimated cost to the consumer of the Velocycle cited in the OP? I suspect that the ballpark cost vs. value received and limitations on legal/safe use anywhere but bike trails would be an insurmountable obstacle for such a project to ever find a demand beyond student project/home tinkerer stage.
Good points. Cost is a deterrent. Rain/sun protection over a bike is ridiculously out of reach in the free market. It defies free market logic that no good rain/sun protection has been developed AND brought to market at a reasonable price to attract buyers and investors. Rain and sun exposure are probably two of the main deterrents to bike commuting. And why shouldn't a covered bicycle be allowed to ride on regular roads the same as uncovered bikes?
Originally Posted by
corrado33
The combination of the size of the vehicle, the speed at which it will be traveling, and the fact that visibility is limited around it makes it unsuitable for MUPs and bike lanes. Are riders using this thing going to be comfortable riding inches away from a curb when there is a bike lane directly beside one? Or are they going to take the entire bike lane, and move out into the car lane a bit just so they fit?
They'd have to be narrow enough to classify as a bike and be able to use bike lanes; otherwise what's the point? You'd still be stuck in traffic. The benefit of being able to use bike lanes/paths is passing slow-moving motor traffic.