NASA Great Moonbuggy Race

Speaks for itself:

Link: http://moonbuggy.msfc.nasa.gov/

Another Human Powered Vehicle! Part 5 - Front Suspension Designs

Interesting article on design challenges of human powered vehicles.

Link: Autospeed Article

RINGWOOD PEDAL CAR PRIX 2008

A bunch of cool pedal race cars popular in the UK.

Link: http://www.ringwoodpedalcargrandprix.co.uk/

PVC Kartcross Pedal Car

Interesting PVC plans for a pedal car. This is similar to other PVC lits/plans I have been checking out on the web. One benefit: easy cheap materials. Downside, I don't really care that much for PVC, but others might not mind the material.

Link: http://www.pvcplans.com/kartcross.htm

Pedal Powered art car

"This Lamborghini made of wire was shown off at the Art Car Parade in Manchester last month."

Link: http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2007/10/wire_lamborghini_relies_on_ped/

4 wheel drive Pedal car

The website is in German:
http://www.trailcart.eu/startseite/

But there is a post in Treehugger:

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/06/four-wheel-drive-bicycle.php

"Safe routes to school" VDOT funding now available to private schools

VDOT has new funding opportunities for improving infrastructure and education pertaining to students who walk and bike to work.
Funding caps are $500.000 per project for infrastructure and $100,000 per non infrastructure projects and are open to private schools for the first time. There are no matching fund requirements.
Two type of projects exist, Infrastructure and Non infrastructure.


An Excerpt from: http://www.virginiadot.org/programs/resources/srts_assets/Final_SRTS_Guidelines_6.12.09.pdf

Full details:
http://www.virginiadot.org/programs/ted_Rt2_school_pro.asp


Eligible Non-Infrastructure Program Activities: The following activities are eligible for
funding through the Safe Routes to School Program (note: for the purpose of applying for
funding, a “proposed element” is made up of one or more related activities):
Education:
• Creation of educational materials
• Pedestrian and bicycle safety skills
training for students and parents
• Bicycle rodeo to teach on bike skills
• Personal safety skills training for
students and parents
• Health, environmental and sustainable
transportation benefits of walking and
bicycling to students
• Educate parents and caregivers about
safe driving procedures at the school
• Training, including SRTS training
workshops that target school and
community level audiences
Encouragement:
• SRTS promotional campaigns and
materials
• Incentive activities that encourage
safe walking and bicycling over time
• Walking School Bus programs
• Bike Train programs
• International Walk to School Day or
other special event
• Walking/biking mileage clubs
• Community safe driving awareness and
education campaigns
Enforcement:
• Crossing guard training programs
and equipment
• Parent or student patrol programs
• Lower speed limits in school vicinity
Evaluation:
• Photocopying, duplication and
printing costs, mailing costs for data
gathering
• Counting the number of students
who walk and bicycle to and from
school (mandated for funded
projects)
• Measuring parent/guardian perceptions
of safety (mandated for funded projects)
• Consultant services for improving an
existing School Travel Plan

Costs allowed for Non-infrastructure Program Activities:
1. Equipment and Supplies used for SRTS activities*
2. Educational Materials
3. Promotions, Incentives (less than $10 each) or Publicity
6. Printing, Copying and Postage
7. Consultant Services – including Planning and Evaluation and Associated Education and
Training
8. Costs to Employ Area-wide Program Manager: A position to direct the start-up of a SRTS
program for an entire city, county, or some other area-wide division (3 or more
participating schools) for the identified non-infrastructure elements in the School Travel
Plan and application. Funded program managers coordinate the efforts of numerous
stakeholders and volunteers, and manage the process for implementation at the local or
regional level. Requests for funding Program Managers will be evaluated on a case-bycase
basis; the position is time-limited and funding should not supplant existing funding
for staff who are already responsible for these types of activities.
* Contact SRTS Coordinator regarding eligible equipment and requirements.
Eligible Infrastructure Improvements: Only those improvements identified in an approved
School Travel Plan will be eligible for funding. (Note: For each infrastructure project application,
improvements should be in a single location or along one continuous route traveled by students
to school and located within 2 miles of a participating school.)
Engineering:
Sidewalk Improvements
• New Sidewalk
• Sidewalk Gap Closure
• Sidewalk Widening
• Sidewalk repair/replacement
• Sidewalk Curb
• Sidewalk Curb Ramp
Traffic Calming/Speed Reduction
• Roundabout
• Bulb-out or curb extension
• Speed Bump/Hump/Table
• Raised Intersection or Crossing
• Pedestrian Refuge
• Narrowed Traffic Lane/Choker
• Lane Reductions
Pedestrian and Bicycle Crossing Improvements
• Crosswalks
• Median Refuge
• Raised Crossing/Intersection
• Sight Distance Improvements
Traffic Control Devices
• New/Upgraded Traffic Signal
• New Pavement Markings
• New Traffic Striping
• Driver Speed Feedback Sign (pole
mounted)
• Bike Sensitive Signal Actuation
Devices
• Pedestrian Signal Upgrades
• Pedestrian Countdown Signals
Traffic Diversion
• Full/Half Street Closure
• Traffic diversion away from school zone or designated route to school
On Street Bicycle Facilities
• New/Upgraded Bike Lane
• Widened Outside Lanes/Shoulders
• Geometric Improvements
• Traffic Signs
• Pavement Markings
Off Street Bicycle and Pedestrian Facilities
• Shared-use paths
• Separation of bicycles and pedestrians from traffic adjacent to school facilities
Secure Bicycle Parking Facilities (for students’ bicycles)
• Bike Racks
• Bike Lockers
• Covered Bike Shelter
Within the sets of fundable infrastructure improvements for a proposed project, the following
costs are reimbursable to selected applicants through the Safe Routes to School Program:
Costs allowed for Infrastructure Projects:
1. Scoping / Environmental Evaluation
2. Preliminary Engineering
3. Right of Way Acquisition (with limitations)
4. Construction
5. Construction Engineering

INELIGIBLE PROJECTS AND ACTIVITIES
Funding is flexible for SRTS program elements and projects in order to encourage innovative
solutions. Certain activities and projects however, are ineligible; they include:
• Recurring and operational costs, such as crossing guard salaries, will not be funded and
indirect costs are not eligible.
• The use of funds for projects that reorganize pick-up and drop-off primarily for the
convenience of drivers and their passengers rather than to improve access for those walking
or biking to school is not permitted.
• School bus safety programs and improvements to school bus stops are not eligible for this
funding.
• Projects and activities that are not included as Strategies in an approved School Travel Plan
are not eligible.
• Infrastructure improvements that primarily serve to connect schools to after-school facilities
are not eligible.
• Projects and activities that routinely receive funding from other sources or that are
considered routine accommodations, such as sidewalks constructed as part of new
development are not eligible for funding.

Pedal-powered snow plow

Interesting snow plow built by a Trek engineer. Big tires and other parts from a riding lawn mower

Link: http://1world2wheels.org/blog/for-real-pedal-powered-snow-plow/

2009 sign lights up with pedal power

Link: http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/12/30/ringing-in-2009-with-people-power/

The Bus Cycle

At only 4 mph, the Bus Cycle is a bit slow, but fun to check out none the less. A driver and 15 passengers on the ride of a lifetime.

Link: http://busycle.com/

Are we heading for a human-powered future?

CNN Article about human powered appliances and services in the near future.

Link: http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/science/
08/01/Human.power/index.html

Unconventional wheels

Cool blog:

Robert Horn's adventures in vehicle dynamics

Some results from almost 20 years of researching, designing, building, and riding.

Nice designs and concepts for wheeling outside the box:

Link: http://rohorn.blogspot.com/

Pedal powered "Car" wins in court

I forwarded a story about this art "Car" a while back...
Basically some artists used a Buick shell with bicycle components together to create a rolling art piece. They got pulled over by the police for safety concerns. Get the full scoop here:

LINK: http://www.thestar.com/News/GTA/article/410165