The Walking Bicycle Club is a new range of electric bicycles that calls themselves "pedestrian," purely because of the way they are operated and not at all because they are ordinary. These unusual bicycles have a form that's like a scooter and motorized pedals that are operated with a natural walking motion. However, the cycles are made to reach speeds of up to 15mph, which is a nice boost.
The WBC came about as part of a collaboration between auto part maker Katayama Kogyo and well-respected designers like Shuwa Tei and Kenya Hara, which is probably what makes these unconventional cycles so pleasing to look at.
The $3,000 Walking Bicycle Club units will go up for sale in October and since Japan has classified them as ordinary bicycles and not electric ones, having a license to operate one is not required.
Upright Walking Cycles
WBC's Electric Bicycles Are Operated with a Forward Walking Motion
Trend Themes
1. Pedestrian Electric Bicycles - WBC's forward walking motion electric bicycles provide a new way of transport that could disrupt the bicycle industry.
2. Scooter-like Form - The innovative design of the Walking Bicycle Club provides opportunities for disruption within the scooter industry.
3. Natural Walking Motion - The ability to operate the pedals with a natural walking motion could disrupt the design of traditional bicycles.
Industry Implications
1. Bicycle Industry - The Walking Bicycle Club presents an opportunity to disrupt the traditional bicycle industry.
2. Scooter Industry - The design of the WBC could disrupt the scooter industry with its unique form and innovative design.
3. Electric Vehicle Industry - The pedestrian classification of the WBC could spark innovation in the classification and regulations of electric vehicles.