The Paris Bike Share and the problems it has faced http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/31/world/europe/31bikes.html?hp
Paying with a cell phone: http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/29/using-a-cellphone-number-to-pay-for-virtual-goods/?hp
RFID and Danish bikes: http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/12/rfid_lights_up.php
http://www.see-mi.dk/Default.aspx?ID=91
Private bike rental and pricing in Kobenhavn: http://cykelboersen.dk/en/priser/
http://www.cph-bike-rental.dk/
Friday, October 30, 2009
in our own backyard
what $5000, paint, flora+fauna, and planning can do for a corner. now, let's see if DOT realizes that maybe they could activate the center with furniture [besides 2 benches] + bike parking!! this is right outside the A/C/G Hoyt-Schermerhorn station.
It’s plaza sweet on Schermerhorn Street
By Ben Muessig
Downtown is turning into a real walker’s wonderland.
The city has almost finished creating a pedestrian plaza at the corner of Hoyt and Schermerhorn streets, offering bipeds a bit of space in the bustling neighborhood.
The $5,000 project brings a 17-foot by 70-foot walking and sitting area to the front of the main entrance to the Hoyt–Schermerhorn train station — protected from traffic and newly painted cycling routes by a row of potted plants.
“It’s some much-needed room to breath on a very crowded sidewalk in Downtown Brooklyn,” said Wiley Norvell, a spokesman for Transportation Alternatives, the pedestrian and bike advocacy group. “Previously, this is space that was sitting under parked cars the entire day while pedestrians squeezed onto a few feet of sidewalk. Now that’s really turned on its head.”
The project — which reclaimed a chunk of sidewalk space often covered by parked police cars — started ahead of the expected November launch date and will be completed in the coming weeks when workers install two benches in the piazza, according to the Department of Transportation.
©2009 The Brooklyn Paper
http://www.brooklynpaper.com/stories/32/44/32_44_bm_schermerhorn_plaza.html
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
RFID-zones for parking
the scale is a little off on this, imagine the hex would enshroud via "graffiti" landscaping 10-15 bikes. this shows a little less than that.
smaller hexagons are at a scale of one RFID can grow from the center-void hex. they are mainly graphic paint applied to the sidewalk and the streetscape. ("outside the box" in the concept of free-form parking opportunity) the larger hexagon footprints include poched pods which are silos. that's about 300 bikes per hex-pod. on the surface, it's only about 10-15. also, planning on getting this image to be closer to something like this:
with black white and grays
More reclaimed bike racks
This is the rack that is at the vegan bakery just down the street from my house in Ohio.I like the use of rims as well as frames although I don't know if this is the best design possible.
...look what i made!
This is what I've been working on the past few days:
I've got a .skp file i can e-mail if anyone wants to play with it and get a specific view. I'm going to work on building the silo in sketchup (finally) today/tonight and then I'm going to photoshop them into some of the images Brandon took so they look at home, and that should provide us with some good visual material for the booklet/boards.
Please let me know what you think about this scheme for a "satellite hub" to the share system. Each Bollard is a stand-alone unit that is hard-wired into the municipal utilities, and is a secure way to store the Kø bikes as well as privately owned bicycles.
Features:
I figured the lock ring going around the head tube was the simplest and most efficient manner for locking given the propensity for trash and scum to collect in those wheel-slot locking systems. I think we should definitely use more economical anti-wheel-theft solutions such as keyed skewers:
The maintenance worker could be the only ones with access to a key that would release the wheel.
Also, I know the bike is red and not yellow like in Philip's diagrams, but a.) that color can be quickly changed in sketchup; and b.) red or yellow bollards look either like safety equipment or dumb so blue, being the next primary color, worked best and looked the nicest to me, but then with a bunch of yellow bikes all around it started to look like a lo-fi IKEA ad.
Finally, I know the bike isn't quite the same as Philip's design, I tried to find a model of a city bike that I could tweak to look like ours but this was as close as I could get without surpassing my abilities in sketchup/modeling for days on end...
I've got a .skp file i can e-mail if anyone wants to play with it and get a specific view. I'm going to work on building the silo in sketchup (finally) today/tonight and then I'm going to photoshop them into some of the images Brandon took so they look at home, and that should provide us with some good visual material for the booklet/boards.
Please let me know what you think about this scheme for a "satellite hub" to the share system. Each Bollard is a stand-alone unit that is hard-wired into the municipal utilities, and is a secure way to store the Kø bikes as well as privately owned bicycles.
Features:
- RFID Reader aligns with head-tube of Kø bike (where RFID tag will go) and communicates with the real-time database for the online component.
- Powder coated steel bollard and lock-ring adequitely resist corrosion in harsh and salinated conditions (seaside)
- User Interface features standard 10 button numerical pad for manual operation (non-member use), a short-range RFID reader compatible with bank cards and membership card, a magnetic strip swipe for standard bank/credit cards; and a big, friendly screen for visual confirmation and information.
- A happy looking flower pot is integrated into the top of the prefabricated bollard and filled with soil and a nice flower. The pot drains through a week-hole (not modeled) at the base of the bollard to allow for the plant's natural aspiration from both above and below.
- Nice blue colour mimics that of the copenhagen bike lanes, reaffirming their connection to Copenhagen's transportation and ambulation network.
I figured the lock ring going around the head tube was the simplest and most efficient manner for locking given the propensity for trash and scum to collect in those wheel-slot locking systems. I think we should definitely use more economical anti-wheel-theft solutions such as keyed skewers:
The maintenance worker could be the only ones with access to a key that would release the wheel.
Also, I know the bike is red and not yellow like in Philip's diagrams, but a.) that color can be quickly changed in sketchup; and b.) red or yellow bollards look either like safety equipment or dumb so blue, being the next primary color, worked best and looked the nicest to me, but then with a bunch of yellow bikes all around it started to look like a lo-fi IKEA ad.
Finally, I know the bike isn't quite the same as Philip's design, I tried to find a model of a city bike that I could tweak to look like ours but this was as close as I could get without surpassing my abilities in sketchup/modeling for days on end...
Monday, October 26, 2009
a few interesting things:
a pedal powered bar via Inhabitat
And then I ran across this article which points out some of the shortcomings of the Paris bike share; including but not limited to - theft (one found in Romania), defacement, getting tossed in the Seine, etc...
food for thought
a pedal powered bar via Inhabitat
And then I ran across this article which points out some of the shortcomings of the Paris bike share; including but not limited to - theft (one found in Romania), defacement, getting tossed in the Seine, etc...
food for thought
booklet + submission materials + SCHEDULE
clarification on the submission materials required [end of first page and continues to the second page]: http://www.cphbikeshare.com/files/FAQ.pdf
_Booklet printing + submission materials: Mimeo versus lulu vs other options... we should begin to research which option to go with based upon services provided, cost, turn around time, etc. it looks like mimeo has a 50% off for new customer orders - maybe we should pursue this? today is monday october 26 - we should start assembling the book in the next week. are we going to try printing twice with one of these companies? or should we print our draft at a home/office in order to cut down costs? i noticed that some of these companies may possibly print to the edge of the paper, so therefore we dont need the margins set up in the current InDesign booklet template. ?? we are planning on 'red lining' the book on wednesday november 4, less than 1.5 weeks from today. that means, we should have most of the content of the booklet completed in the next 1.5 weeks.
_Submission material: we have to produce/layout 2 A1 sized boards for digital submission. and we also need to put together a maximim 40 slide power point. and lastly, we have to save all illustrations as jpegs AND pdfs for web and reproduction. this type of layout should begin on wednesday... so we can also begin to prepare the text needed to support our illustrations.
SCHEDULE:
_Booklet printing + submission materials: Mimeo versus lulu vs other options... we should begin to research which option to go with based upon services provided, cost, turn around time, etc. it looks like mimeo has a 50% off for new customer orders - maybe we should pursue this? today is monday october 26 - we should start assembling the book in the next week. are we going to try printing twice with one of these companies? or should we print our draft at a home/office in order to cut down costs? i noticed that some of these companies may possibly print to the edge of the paper, so therefore we dont need the margins set up in the current InDesign booklet template. ?? we are planning on 'red lining' the book on wednesday november 4, less than 1.5 weeks from today. that means, we should have most of the content of the booklet completed in the next 1.5 weeks.
_Submission material: we have to produce/layout 2 A1 sized boards for digital submission. and we also need to put together a maximim 40 slide power point. and lastly, we have to save all illustrations as jpegs AND pdfs for web and reproduction. this type of layout should begin on wednesday... so we can also begin to prepare the text needed to support our illustrations.
SCHEDULE:
collaging
first attempt for me, with this image erik posted plus some google image. I am not in any way pleased with this but it took about 10 minutes so consider it just a mock up... will be trying to create some more of these, maybe I will need some things from D. and more photoshop.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
mapping people densities
mapping out across some of the bike lane streets (pink) some routes that our tourists (yellow) or locals (blue) might take to get around. Also placing some hexagon footprints near the train stations in a variety of capacities as well. Some other ones near where a larger train station one might run out of space or bikes and could overflow to a piazza a few blocks away, which may benefit from having a 2-or-3 configuration on its own anyway.
Also looking into Jan Gehl on Caitlin's recommendation who is responsible for designating streets for pedestrians or cycles or whatnot.
running notes from october 25 meeting
_Everyone should closely read the criteria [found here: http://www.cphbikeshare.com/files/competition_programme_final_310809.pdf] and find a question that is asked that we have not addressed/created a solution for and run with it.
Whenever someone feels like they need something to work on, re-reading the criteria will be helpful to brainstorm on what to tackle next. I think the more criteria we can provide a solution for, the better - and of course, with quality [over quantity].
_As a collective, we have decided upon the concept of the narrative for the booklet format. So as we continue onwards, we should be mindful of the criteria in terms of the personas/target users.
_Logistics: the web-application format is a good way to show our intent with logistics: booking, access and payment. there is still more refining that needs to occur. [ie. where will the Ko card kiosks be located and integrating into the storage system] [once a bicycle is taken out of the silo and locked at a bollard, how will the bicycle be un-locked by the new user? solution: there will be the same type of interface/scanner built into the rear lock/bicycle that exists at the silo. so the new user can text to the Ko digital system or swipe their Ko card.
examples of self-locking bicycles:
_Storage: Thus far we have outlined 3 types of storage. 1: silo 2: bollard 3: salvaged bicycle parts. keep in mind that the Ko bike share bicycles will be secure while stored in the silo. when they are 'locked' to the bollard, they will be self-locking on the rear wheel and also the front wheel can possibly lock into the bollard. and thirdly, the salvaged bicycle part storage system will be used as more of a sculptural piece to show users where the Ko bike share has designated for the bicycles to be parked. We discussed designing this salvaged bicycle part system in more detail - thru CAD and/or collage.
examples of using salvaged bicycles for a bike rack/storage system:
a la burning man - i think something like this would be ideal.
_Bike Design/Branding: [from the criteria] "What will the bicycle in the future bike share system look like? How will it work? We need a new design for a bicycle. The bicycle's target group is first and foremost commuters who arrive in Copenhagen and Frederiksberg by train, bus, or metro..." etc. In response to the bike share's target group, we plan on proposing silos at the main station for the commuters to use as they commute to and from the city. We also plan to install campaign/propoganda to entice commuters to use our bike share.
Whenever someone feels like they need something to work on, re-reading the criteria will be helpful to brainstorm on what to tackle next. I think the more criteria we can provide a solution for, the better - and of course, with quality [over quantity].
_As a collective, we have decided upon the concept of the narrative for the booklet format. So as we continue onwards, we should be mindful of the criteria in terms of the personas/target users.
_Logistics: the web-application format is a good way to show our intent with logistics: booking, access and payment. there is still more refining that needs to occur. [ie. where will the Ko card kiosks be located and integrating into the storage system] [once a bicycle is taken out of the silo and locked at a bollard, how will the bicycle be un-locked by the new user? solution: there will be the same type of interface/scanner built into the rear lock/bicycle that exists at the silo. so the new user can text to the Ko digital system or swipe their Ko card.
examples of self-locking bicycles:
_Storage: Thus far we have outlined 3 types of storage. 1: silo 2: bollard 3: salvaged bicycle parts. keep in mind that the Ko bike share bicycles will be secure while stored in the silo. when they are 'locked' to the bollard, they will be self-locking on the rear wheel and also the front wheel can possibly lock into the bollard. and thirdly, the salvaged bicycle part storage system will be used as more of a sculptural piece to show users where the Ko bike share has designated for the bicycles to be parked. We discussed designing this salvaged bicycle part system in more detail - thru CAD and/or collage.
examples of using salvaged bicycles for a bike rack/storage system:
a la burning man - i think something like this would be ideal.
_Bike Design/Branding: [from the criteria] "What will the bicycle in the future bike share system look like? How will it work? We need a new design for a bicycle. The bicycle's target group is first and foremost commuters who arrive in Copenhagen and Frederiksberg by train, bus, or metro..." etc. In response to the bike share's target group, we plan on proposing silos at the main station for the commuters to use as they commute to and from the city. We also plan to install campaign/propoganda to entice commuters to use our bike share.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Booklet format + Mock web application
Booklet format:
Last night we dicussed the booklet format and how we can tell the 'story' of our proposal thru a narrative as opposed to the cut-and-dryness of filling each page with our solutions to each criteria. So we can tell the story of the 3 personas/target users: The Commuter, The Tourist, and The Copenhagener thru their individual experiences in using the KØ bike share program [while hitting upon each target users unique experience with the criteria - bike design; storage; booking, access & payment while keeping in mind the overall concept; design and form; visibility, user-friendliness and logistics; and interaction with the city.]
Here is an example of the mock web application and how each target user's experience is unique [content subject to change]:
The Commuter/The Copenhagener:
The Tourist
Last night we dicussed the booklet format and how we can tell the 'story' of our proposal thru a narrative as opposed to the cut-and-dryness of filling each page with our solutions to each criteria. So we can tell the story of the 3 personas/target users: The Commuter, The Tourist, and The Copenhagener thru their individual experiences in using the KØ bike share program [while hitting upon each target users unique experience with the criteria - bike design; storage; booking, access & payment while keeping in mind the overall concept; design and form; visibility, user-friendliness and logistics; and interaction with the city.]
Here is an example of the mock web application and how each target user's experience is unique [content subject to change]:
The Commuter/The Copenhagener:
The Tourist
surface area diagram
a diagram depicting the advantages of the surface area Kobenhavn will gain when instituting our proposal for bike storage. our silos provide a solution to the overcrowding in the existing condition.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
a little bit of this, a little bit of that
a red, yellow, and blue interactive booth/RFID card dispenser:
quickie collages using erik's sketches, philip's bicycle and interactive booth/dispenser:
the red, yellow and blue isnt 100% on point... i really like the yellow and blue together [but as erik mentioned, this may be too SWEDISH - noooooo!] i like how philip used the two tones of blue and yellow as the main component colors with an accent of red.
this definitely needs a big helping of REFINEMENT. tonight, Erik and I have discussed that we will work on how the booking, access and payment [booth/dispenser] can be integrated in with the storage [silo]. i will also continue to work on simulating the web/smart phone web applications. see you all tonight!
quickie collages using erik's sketches, philip's bicycle and interactive booth/dispenser:
the red, yellow and blue isnt 100% on point... i really like the yellow and blue together [but as erik mentioned, this may be too SWEDISH - noooooo!] i like how philip used the two tones of blue and yellow as the main component colors with an accent of red.
this definitely needs a big helping of REFINEMENT. tonight, Erik and I have discussed that we will work on how the booking, access and payment [booth/dispenser] can be integrated in with the storage [silo]. i will also continue to work on simulating the web/smart phone web applications. see you all tonight!
Bike Silo Renderings
Here are the first rough renderings of the exterior envelope of the silo. I know there has been dispute over the size of the hexagons. However, due to the limitations of my computer, i.e. lack of RAM, I have to resort to using a larger hexagons in order to render within a reasonable amount of time. Erik, your sketches are very helpful in establishing the overall concept. I like the idea of having a daytime and nighttime rendering of the silo depot within context of the city. There will be more images to come.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Printing Booklet
http://www.mimeo.com/
Seems to be a pretty good, cheap place to print stuff out.
Something to keep in mind as we get closer to the deadline.
Seems to be a pretty good, cheap place to print stuff out.
Something to keep in mind as we get closer to the deadline.
CPH bike sketch
So here's a little sketch of a potential bike. I can add some specs to it and make a little diagram showing measurements and what not.
The bike is based on the Specialized Globe Live.
...scans n' things
So I finally got around to scanning and playing with (a la photoshop) my many sketches; here are a few for your general amusement/use:
First there was this thing:
Not terribly relevant now, I know, but here for the sake of posterity nonetheless.
Next is that silly diagram thing I did explaining how bikes would be dredged out of the harbor for re-use... While I agree with Philip that this might not be the best idea for bikes intended to be ridden, perhaps a similar diagram could be used to explain how they are converted into bike racks, for instance.
And then there's the silo...
conceptual sketch
sketch showing implementation in front of the størmagasinet. (I think this one looked a lot better before I got all whimsical with the colouring.)
Sketch showing broader implementation at the Kongens Nytorv metro station.
In photoshop, I added some moody tones. Strangely, whenever I imagine Copenhagen, it's always dark out...
And then some colour... (As I mentioned above, for some reason, I frequently feel as though I destroy some of my best sketches by colouring them, but photoshop proved to be an ally in that regard [note the awesome foliage I added!!])
First there was this thing:
Not terribly relevant now, I know, but here for the sake of posterity nonetheless.Next is that silly diagram thing I did explaining how bikes would be dredged out of the harbor for re-use... While I agree with Philip that this might not be the best idea for bikes intended to be ridden, perhaps a similar diagram could be used to explain how they are converted into bike racks, for instance.
And then there's the silo...
conceptual sketch
sketch showing implementation in front of the størmagasinet. (I think this one looked a lot better before I got all whimsical with the colouring.)
Sketch showing broader implementation at the Kongens Nytorv metro station.
In photoshop, I added some moody tones. Strangely, whenever I imagine Copenhagen, it's always dark out...
And then some colour... (As I mentioned above, for some reason, I frequently feel as though I destroy some of my best sketches by colouring them, but photoshop proved to be an ally in that regard [note the awesome foliage I added!!])
Saturday, October 17, 2009
logistsics: booking, access + payment
4.1.1 THE BICYCLE DESIGN
What will the bicycle in the future bike share system look like?
Mixte bike frame, yellow color. Carbon Belt System. Built-in lights and basket. Carbon belt system. Two sizes: small and large.
Cargo bike
How will it work?
4.1.2 Storage
How is the bicycle stored when not in use?
Silos. Hexagonal wire mesh with green indigenous plants IN DRAWING:[include lighting, air pumps, interactive touch-screen LCD panel with the Ko website - for booking and payment purposes -, RFID card dispenser, unique silo number - for access thru text message]
Ballards
Re-cycled salvaged bicycle parts
4.1.3 [LOGISTICS] BOOKING, ACCESS AND PAYMENT
How do you book a bicycle from the bike share system?
There are a number of options, one is going to the “Ko” website and booking a bicycle from there.
Book a bicycle at the silos with a touch-screen LCD panel with the website.
How do you access a bicycle and drop it off again?
Radio Frequency IDentification [RFID]
How does the user pay/register for usage?
There will be RFID integrated in the new bike share bicycles to keep track of them in the system
[to be displayed on the web/phone application] and also as a direct form of sorting in the storage system.
There will be RFID cards for members to be obtained from signing up on the website
and then to be dispensed from the vending machines at the parking storage system.
If bicyclists with their own privately-owned bicycles wish to park their bicycles at the “Ko” silo, they will incur a minimal charge.
La Rochelle's bike share uses yellow bikes... http://www.copenhagencyclechic.com/2009/10/french-bicycle-advocate-cycle-chic.html
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