(click on image for larger view)
This fact alone beckons a review of our concept of transportation.
Questions: Why do we regard speed limits as minimum required operating speeds? For a posted limit of 100km/hr, why do we tend to set the cruise control to 110km/hr? What is the point of establishing a speed limit if we will never abide by it?
We are at a crossroad in transportation - speed vs efficiency.
Our society views power and speed as necessary "options" for vehicle ownership yet we keep missing the point... So what if your car's speedometer can go to 200km/hr and the vehicle is "safety" governed to about 175km/hr? Remember, the speed limit is only 100km/hr!
We have been so brainwashed into thinking that a vehicle must be at least 3 tonnes of 300HP with AWD and heated leather seats. Vehicle marketing has done their job quite well indeed brainwashing the consumer into requiring far too many "options".
Did you know that the world record for a human powered ground vehicle is 132.5km/hr?
[Google Image search: "Varna Diablo 3" or "Sam Whittingham"]
The more that I learn about transportation, the more that I realize most of our misconceptions are merely the result of really good marketing strategies on the part of automobile manufacturers. Size vs safety and comfort vs efficiency seem to be merely marketing ploys that are effectively steered in the desired directions by the people that pay for the ads.
I'll leave you with this thought: the Aerorider velomobile is a one passenger hybrid human/electric powered vehicle that looks alot like the two above speed record vehicles, but it comes with windshield defrost and wiper and some place for cargo storage.
I am a scooter driver, but I could really see myselft riding one of these someday!
...so my title said "not BAU"...
I think the time for Business As Usual is over... let's get on with creating the future.
You can partially thank my 49cc Honda for that line of thought!
Did you know that the world record for a 50cc powered ground vehicle is 144mph or 233km/hr?
The more that I learn about transportation, the more that I realize most of our misconceptions are merely the result of really good marketing strategies on the part of automobile manufacturers. Size vs safety and comfort vs efficiency seem to be merely marketing ploys that are effectively steered in the desired directions by the people that pay for the ads.
I'll leave you with this thought: the Aerorider velomobile is a one passenger hybrid human/electric powered vehicle that looks alot like the two above speed record vehicles, but it comes with windshield defrost and wiper and some place for cargo storage.
I am a scooter driver, but I could really see myselft riding one of these someday!
...so my title said "not BAU"...
I think the time for Business As Usual is over... let's get on with creating the future.
You can partially thank my 49cc Honda for that line of thought!
