From Popular science shills


Social bike programs have launched in metropolitan areas around the world with mixed results (for instance, Paris's Vélib’' program has enjoyed decent ridership but thousands of bikes have been stolen). But a public bicycle program called SoBi (Social Bicycle) aims to drive down the public cost of bike sharing systems while making it much more convenient to pick up and drop off bikes, using clever technology.

Related ArticlesA Foldable Electric Bicycle for Your Urban Commuting NeedsA Bicycle Suspension with Sensors Built In Automatically Adapts to Changing TerrainTagsTechnology, Clay Dillow, bicycles, bike share, energy, environment, green tech, sobi, vehicles Essentially, SoBi attaches GPS and transmitter-enabled lock boxes onto a bunch of bikes -- any bikes will do, they don't have to be uniform. When the bike is locked up -- anywhere, not just at a designated kiosk as in Paris's system -- it shows up in a map app that directs users to the closest bike. Using the app (or a PIN) you unlock the bike and use it to get where you're going. Your account is charged for the time you use the bike; lock it up at your destination and the meter stops running and the bike becomes available to the next user. A "hold" function will even lock the bike for up to ten minutes without making it available to the next customer, in case you need to simply run indoors for a quick errand. There are some problems that the scheme fails to solve -- theft will remain an issue -- but all of those problems already existed in other bike share programs. Meanwhile, SoBi claims it can cut the cost per bike from $3,000-4,000 to less than $1,000 because there's no need for infrastructure like bike hubs. You can pick up or drop a bike anywhere on a conventional rack (or street sign, or fence, or handrail, etc.).

A limited beta test will roll out in NYC later this year.

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Human-

Imagine that the world was a big cell, or a body of an organism and that the different regions of the earth (body) performed different vital functions that kept this organism alive. This organic analogy or commonly referred to as the Gaia hypothesis was the basis for this seemingly Orwellian creation by reknown architect Rem Koolhaas. The Author of the Gaia hypothesis however recently conceded that mankind could not save "Gaia" in a BBC interview, damn that sucks!!! Nonetheless Koolhas is seeking to redraw the map of Europe, and rezone it according to its energy producing topography. This may seem like a hopeless pursuit considering the deeply ingrained aversion to globalism born out of controlled opposition and 9/11 twoof, nonetheless its an interesting idea worthy of our passing consideration. The fact is that nefarious NWO or not, at some point we WILL need a overarching system to regulate our influence and activity in order to preserve future generations of freedumb lovin con-sue-me-tards.

Although I realize that this Idea will be criticized for its Orwellian nature and the sovereignty participating nations would have to concede, the fact is from an idealist viewpoint it makes perfect sense. This is the kind of GLOBAL thinking we need should we care to ever optimize our existence and make a sustainable home. It needn't be tyrannical or oppressive, but indeed on our current political trajectory it most certainly will be. We need globalist thinking that has the interests of all in mind, not simply the interest of some "green" companies bottom line. Globalism in an economic sense should not be confused with biology and science and the interconnectedness of all things on this planet, indeed globalization and the nefarious "NWO" agenda has made the notion of global unity quite repulsive, however this is not to say that we aren't connected in a way that extends well beyond this economic imposition, we were before, and we always will be ecologically unified. As much as I realize this will likely transpire in the interest of the ruling class, the idea itself (minus all the monetary bullshit) is great in theory.