A NEW TYPE OF TAXI has appeared in Sydney city and it’s just a little different to the other taxi services you find here. Why? Because it’s pedal-powered.
You find Pedipods parked at Circular Quay where they are often hired by tourists. You might think of them as a hybrid between a bicycle and a compact car. In essence, the Pedapod is modeled on the recumbent bicycles with a double rear tandem seat and a light weight pod attached.
Given the snail’s pace of traffic through the city centre, being pedaled through the city streets is not such a slow proposition.
This is human-powerered transportation with a modern touch that meets the needs of short-distance, slow travel in a city of congested streets. Fritz Schumacher, the father of the appropriate technology idea, would have been proud of this innovative addition to the city’s streets.
Rating
INNOVATION/DESIGN THINKING: High.
An innovative solution to traffic congestion and carbon emissions from traffic.
SCALABILITY POTENTIAL: High.
REPLICABILITY: High. Technology exists. Needs entrepreneurial business approach and cooperative government.
