^ Ideation — Coming up with ideas by exploring as many streams of thought as possible to do with cycling.

^ Selecting Ideas — Here, I was comparing 2 different types of locking systems, in terms of the number of steps taken, and the pros and cons of each.

^ Sketches — Just one of the many sheets of sketches to come up with a handle for the lock – one that will be easy and intuitive to use, and looks cohesive with the rest of the bike box.

^ Here, I was figuring out the way in which parts of the box come together.

^ A diagram to depict the few steps needed, on the user’s part, to use the bicycles.

A flowchart to indicate the various steps in the functioning of the bicycle.

^ An example of a map that may be used to inform students of the various transportation options available on campus, including the stations for the bicycle sharing system. The stations are located at existing bus stops along the existing road network, so as to be easily accessed by students.

An informational three-fold pamphlet giving an overview of the bicycle sharing system

I am going to make a bamboo step-through frame for the bike. It is fits in perfectly with my project. No mining for materials as compared to steel (not sure about the cost of growing/harvesting of the bamboo though), there is the possibility of a completely new and expressive aesthetic, tubes are replaceable  in case of any damage, and it has a distinct Asian identity.

Check out this mountain bike with a bamboo frame that someone had constructed on his own. It was used for about 5 years before the owner “retired” it.

Edit on 29/12/09: Okay, I don’t think I’m going to design a bamboo bicycle after all, because it is far too complicated to go into, for the current scope of my project. Also, it might be good for individual use, but perhaps not for shared use. I still like the idea though and maybe I’ll work on it after my final year project!

1) problems

2) possibilities

3) opportunities

Bicycles as a form of commuting is an issue that has gotten a lot of attention from designers lately. That is no surprise, due to the versatility, accessibility and sustainability of the bicycle. Some campuses around the world offer bike rental facilities to students.

Similarly, I think that there is an opporunity to introduce cycling as a more commonly used mode of transport by NTU students. Firstly, it can be used within campus, to commute from one part to another. Secondly, it can be used as a mode of transportation to get to and from the MRT stations and campus. Also, it can be used generally for other uses, such as to get to the nearby neighbourhoods or to Jurong Point to do some shopping. (The possible uses of bicycles in the NTU campus have to be explored further, these are just some basic observations).

There are already some existing modes of transport through which students can get from one place to another for various purposes: personal transport(cars/motorbikes), taxis, public bus(179, 199), the NTU-Pioneer MRT shuttle bus, and the NTU internal shuttle bus. However, cycling is still an attractive mode of transport to many, as shown by the large numbers of bikes parked at the various student halls.

In addition to that, cycling is very cheap in the long-term and gives the user much more control in various aspects of travelling (e.g. speed, distance, specific destination), that public transport is unable to do. Getting students interested in cycling as a mode of commuting indirectly also has a lot of ecological benefits: reducing air pollution, fuel consumption, and even noise pollution.

Based on these initial thoughts and observations, an idea occurred to me that the bikes parked at the various student halls themselves can be rented out to other students at a low fee for use. The shared use of these bikes means that there is no need to purchase bicycles specially for the rental scheme. Students who decide to participate in this scheme by offering their bikes for use can probably be paid on a regular basis. Other students who rent these bicycles could pay a small monthly fee that goes towards paying the bike owners, and to finance the upkeep of the bikes.

Besides that, there are many other issues to consider with regards to cycling in(or outside) campus:

- bike lanes

- bike safety : signalling, traffic, safety accessories

- carrying loads : groceries, bags, attachable accessories

- need for a clear identity to identify bicycles under the scheme

- parking stations : authorisation, locations, security

- accommodating different needs, users

- departure to destination : within campus, outside campus

- rewards, incentives to cycle

- making cycling attractive, fashionable

- overcoming competitors : shuttle bus, public bus, personal transport

- charges

- maintenance

- theft

- vandalism

- funding : donors, students, sponsors

- fitness

- directions, routes

- demand, supply

- sense of ownership

- practicalities : weather, perspiration

- duration of use

- self-automated rental/need for manpower

- 24 hour availability, restricted hours of use

- distance

For each of the issues listed above, there is scope for design to come into play in influencing how the bicycles are used and how the system works in its entirety. There are several examples of bicycles and related products designed by others that address select issues (e.g. security, parking stations, safety). Looking at these works can help me determine which features should be included and to what extent, for the particular needs of NTU students and in the context of use within the NTU campus. In the end, the design concept would be a synthesis of all (or some) of the above considerations. All the previous research that I had done on sustainable design will be applied in my design approach.