Typical of designers who have no idea about the product they’re actually designing, or market they’re designing it for it seems. And to win an award for “Best Consumer Product” of 2008 (although how it can actually be a consumer product being a concept is anyone’s guess), is slightly a joke.

Granted it’s futuristic and pretty, however a lazy comment such as bikes are “impractical” – perhaps the designer should visit a city once in awhile, places such as London, Rome or any major city in the far east for that matter where bikes have been around since its invention, and are the only way to get around. A brief look on the designers website suggests the designer resides in Toronto – a place I know they have bicycles because I have been there.

Companies such as Dahon and Brompton are becoming ever more popular with commuters and their folding bicycles (which can at least be said come with at least 2 pedals and a chain to cycle with). Dahon is very popular in the UK. So how they can be so unpopular that I’m seeing more and more of them in my local city, is a new one on me. I doubt very much, that people feel the need to go and buy a car because bicycles are “intrusive” especially considering that petrol/diesel prices are at least 2/3rds more expensive in the UK than in the US/Canada.

Comment like above would be a good way of putting people off cycling. Mostly however, it would be because of the apparent lack of brakes to stop them if they were to ride this bicycle down a hill, that would likely put them off riding a bicycle ever again – choosing to get a driving licence and buy a car instead.