Human Energy Transporter

[rthorntn]

A travellator that users pedal to move:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1905139319/human-energy-transporter

It doesn't make much sense to me...

Cheers
Richard

[Derresh]

Is it only me... or is the video for this made with a camera think it might be even a cellphone one, facing a monitors ? Also, looks like quite a lot of machinery, so unless there is a lot of ppl on this this it wont move at all.

[elgonzo]

http://www.tourdetavern.com/



'nuff said...

[mikerj]

I don't understand how you get on and off.  The text reckons a transit speed of 30km/h is attainable, does that mean the outside of those little turntables is doing 30km/h and you are supposed to step on and off from a stationary pavement/sidewalk?  And if no free seat is immediately available, you remain spinning at 30km/h until you line up with one?

Ignoring the issues of being killed or maimed by being thrown off a rapidly spinning platform, the frictional losses mean this could never work without a substantial number of people using the system.  Completely ridiculous.

[PeterFW]

That can not be a serious kickstarter

That would be a acceleration from 2km/h to 40km/h on a distance of 2 meters when "boarding this train". Nice.

[electr_peter]

It seems like pure fantasy

Putting aside any claims about energy savings or efficiency calculations, suppose it works technically.
When pedestrian approaches this monstrosity, two choices are present - either walk on moving sidewalk (possibly faster) or step on the pedals. But if you are on the pedals, you are moving slower. Who will be working on pedals? Massive fail right here

As for any energy efficiency or savings, it would cost so much to build and maintain that it is possibly worse than solar roadways
Add on top the fact that even 100% efficient conveyor would lose energy any time person with 0 initial speed steps on it.

[AG6QR]

Human energy transportation has a long history of refinement, with today's bicycles setting the bar pretty high on grounds of speed, efficiency, cost, and reliability.  Walking isn't bad, either, especially from the standpoint of the cost of maintenance of the public portion of the infrastructure.  Somehow I'm not confident that this device will be very competitive.

[janoc]

If I wanted to pedal, why just not ride a bike? That would also make huge savings possible by not having to build (and maintain) those ridiculous travelators (assuming that they worked in the first place).

Some people are completely out of touch with reality