14 DAY TRIAL // There are more than a billion bicycles worldwide and in many regions, bikes are the principal means of transportation. They also provide a popular form of recreation, as cycling has been adapted to other uses, such as general fitness and leisure activities, so new bike designs are usually welcomed by riders.
A team of Japanese designers have joined forces and have created an innovative bike design that will change the way people ride.
Their latest creation is called the Walking Bicycle Club (WBC) and is basically what its name implies, a bike that allows you to walk while riding it. The revolutionary product has three wheels and moves when you pump your legs straight up and down, just like you do while walking, and it's also equipped with an electric motor that assists the user when travelling uphill.
The WBC is being promoted as a part-mobility, part-fashion vehicle and its creator – automotive parts manufacturer Katayama Kogyo – says that the goal is to offer clients an experience that combines the joy of walking with the speed of riding a bike.
According to Japan Trends, the walking bicycle is 1.2 meters (47.2 inches) long and weighs about 36 kg (79.3 pounds). It can go up to 15mph (24 km/h) and the incorporated electric motor can travel up to 12 miles (20 km) on a single charge.
The WBC will be available for purchase in different colors, including Brilliant Red, Moegi Green, Champagne Gold and Sakura Pink, starting from October, and interested buyers will have to fork out 290,000 yen (around $3,000/€2.200) to get one.
Given that it's classified as a bicycle, you don’t need a license to ride the new device on a public road in Japan, and it can be used on the same roads as regular bikes.
Although the idea of a walking bicycle sounds quite interesting, it seems that the online reaction to the invention was not very enthusiastic, and the promotional video released by the company could be blamed for this.
“Don’t people ride a bike because they don’t want to walk? This is absurd,” one commenter said, as cited by RocketNews.
“It’s no good for long distances since you can’t sit down, and for short distances you might as well walk,” added another.
The Walking Bicycle Club will be first showed in public in July, when its makers will open a showroom in Omotesando.
