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Uni-cycling to save the environment

10 December 2008

Second year Industrial Design student Sarah Hamilton with the 'Uni-cycle'.

Industrial Design students from the Faculty of Art and Design have designed and built a prototype bicycle that is set to become the centrepiece of the University's bike sharing initiative.

The 'Uni-cycle' was built from recycled plastic and has been designed with innovative features including a gas lift seat, photosensitive lights and a drive shaft instead of the traditional oily chain.

It could be on the road within two years as part of a new bike sharing scheme funded through the Facilities and Services Office of Environmental Sustainability.

The bike share scheme, which has been developed to encourage use of sustainable transport options, will allow students living in accommodation in the North-East corner of the Clayton campus to ride to classes or activities.

It links in with a proposed shared pedestrian/cyclist path being built to cover the same route.

It will be tested during Orientation Week next year with 70 'hack bikes' that the students have built from spare parts.

If the scheme is successful, the Uni-cycle will go in to mass production.

The students, guided by Industrial Design lecturer Mark Richardson, have also developed prototypes for a vandal-proof docking station, tubular steel shelters and a state-of-the-art helmet.

Director of the Office of Environmental Sustainability Paul Barton said the end result of the project had been better than expected.

"It has been an absolutely fantastic effort by all the students and we will now wait on the results of the trial before bringing in this iconic bike system," Mr Barton said.

Mr Richardson said the project was fantastic for students because they were able to see tangible outcomes.

"As a lecturer, it has been extremely gratifying - I have never seen such enthusiasm from students as I witnessed on this project," Mr Richardson said.

For more information on sustainability initiatives at Monash visit the Facilities and Services website.