TransportationMatrix

transportationmatrix The Transportation Matrix

Frederik Van De Walle and Peter Cox propose a new way to look at personal transportation. Instead of an evolutionary progression from foot to bicycle to motorcycle to car, they envision a matrix of options that range along an axis of increasing motorization (bottom to top in this diagram, but you could also arrange them from top to bottom), with another axis representing increasing enclosure/weather protection (here shown from right to left).

Car

Full-power motor -- not enclosed/fewer wheels
Full-power motor -- partially enclosed
Full-power motor -- fully-enclosed/more wheels

Unenclosed scooter

Small motor -- not enclosed/fewer wheels
Small motor -- partially enclosed
Small motor -- fully-enclosed/more wheels

Electric Assist Bicycle Enclosed Electric-Assist Bicycle
Aerorider

Pedal/electric -- not enclosed/fewer wheels
Pedal/electric -- partially enclosed
Pedal/electric -- fully-enclosed/more wheels

Mochet Recumbent Bike Anthrotech Trike
WAW velomobile

Pedal only -- not enclosed/fewer wheels
Pedal only -- partially-enclosed
Pedal only -- fully-enclosed/more wheels

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Brommobiel

Brommobiel What's that tiny car?

In Europe, small cars with a maximum speed of 45 kilometers/hour (about 28 mph) are used for commuting and in cities. They don't require a driver's license, and they are allowed into some car-free zones.

These tiny vehicles fit into small parking spots. Many of them are set up to be operated from a wheelchair that enters via a ramp in the rear.

They are used by people who are disabled, are too young to drive, have lost their licenses, or who want to avoid the high costs of a regular car.

To the right is a Canta, found in the Netherlands.

Three-wheeled truck
We saw this little 3-wheeled truck in Spain... 3-wheeled delivery van
...and this very similar one in Austria.

This electric vehicle (a Gizmo) is one of a fleet driven by Galactic Pizza's delivery superheros in Minneapolis. "Neighborhood Electric Vehicles" traveling at 25 mph or less are increasingly being allowed on the streets in the U.S.

The Twike, a small 2-person Swiss/German car that is available in either a pedal/electric or an all-electric version, has recently been allowed to be sold in the U.S. and was offered in the 2006 Neiman-Marcus Christmas Catalog.

The Aerorider is a single-person vehicle that combines pedal and electric propulsion. In the transportation matrix, velomobiles are followed by electric-assist velomobiles, then the pedal-electric hybrid Aerorider, then the pedal-assisted electric Twike, the all-electric Twike, and on into the cars.

Going the other way, the "smart" is a car small enough to park nose-in along the street. This one is also a "car-sharing" vehicle, allowing drivers to enjoy the advantages of driving a car without all of the expenses and inconveniences of owning one.

Visit Bruce Weiner's Micro Car Museum on-line or in person to see the world's greatest collection of tiny cars.

Motorcycling Under Glass

Motorcycling Under Glass

The BMW C-1 was made in 2001 and 2002 and sold in Europe.
Designed for safety and comfort, it failed to meet sales goals and was discontinued.

The one to the right was seen in Vienna.

This BMW-C1 was in Barcelona.

The Benelli motorscooter in its native habitat -- a rainy German railway station.


Full-power motor -- not enclosed/fewer wheels	Full-power motor -- partially enclosed	Full-power motor -- fully-enclosed/more wheels

Small motor -- not enclosed/fewer wheels	Small motor -- partially enclosed	Small motor -- fully-enclosed/more wheels

Pedal/electric -- not enclosed/fewer wheels	Pedal/electric -- partially enclosed	Pedal/electric -- fully-enclosed/more wheels

Pedal only -- not enclosed/fewer wheels	Pedal only -- partially-enclosed	Pedal only -- fully-enclosed/more wheels

In Europe, small cars with a maximum speed of 45 kilometers/hour (about 28 mph) are used for commuting and in cities. They don't require a driver's license, and they are allowed into some car-free zones. These tiny vehicles fit into small parking spots. Many of them are set up to be operated from a wheelchair that enters via a ramp in the rear. They are used by people who are disabled, are too young to drive, have lost their licenses, or who want to avoid the high costs of a regular car. To the right is a Canta, found in the Netherlands.
We saw this little 3-wheeled truck in Spain...	...and this very similar one in Austria.
	This electric vehicle (a Gizmo) is one of a fleet driven by Galactic Pizza's delivery superheros in Minneapolis. "Neighborhood Electric Vehicles" traveling at 25 mph or less are increasingly being allowed on the streets in the U.S.
The Twike, a small 2-person Swiss/German car that is available in either a pedal/electric or an all-electric version, has recently been allowed to be sold in the U.S. and was offered in the 2006 Neiman-Marcus Christmas Catalog.
	The Aerorider is a single-person vehicle that combines pedal and electric propulsion. In the transportation matrix, velomobiles are followed by electric-assist velomobiles, then the pedal-electric hybrid Aerorider, then the pedal-assisted electric Twike, the all-electric Twike, and on into the cars.
Going the other way, the "smart" is a car small enough to park nose-in along the street. This one is also a "car-sharing" vehicle, allowing drivers to enjoy the advantages of driving a car without all of the expenses and inconveniences of owning one. Visit Bruce Weiner's Micro Car Museum on-line or in person to see the world's greatest collection of tiny cars.