Urban Transport

Me-Mover combines a stand-up trike and a step machine

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MeMover is a new Danish design for personal mobility
MeMover provides an intense cardio workout
Me-Mover can be folded so the user can easily carry it on a bus, train or even in the car
The designers have developed their own transmission system with variable gearing, with a patent currently pending
Stepping and carving motions work on different muscle groups
MeMover is a new Danish design for personal mobility
The aluminum-framed Me-Mover weighs 20 kg (44 pounds), and measures 95 cm (37.4 in) in height, 115 cm (45.2 in) in length and 43 cm (16.9 in) in width
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A Danish design company is working on a new personal transportation device that combines the high-intensity workout offered by a step machine with the zip of a bicycle. It's called the Me-Mover, and it should be available next year.

The Me-Mover joins the ranks of other devices such as the ElliptiGo 3C and the StairCycle, both of which also utilize a stepping motion for forward momemtum. Its designers looked to skiing and running to come up with a low-impact cardio exercise that they claim beats traditional cycling by 40 percent, in terms of intensity. This is reportedly due to the fact that the stepping motion works the legs, gluteal muscles and hip flexors. Additionally, the carving motion emulates downhill skiing, providing core muscle strengthening as well as balance improvement.

Besides moving through traffic and pedestrians, Me-Mover can be folded so the user can easily carry it on a bus, train or even in the car. The designers say it takes a couple of seconds to fold and roll it, so it can be carried around like a trolley.

The aluminum-framed Me-Mover weighs 20 kg (44 pounds), and measures 95 cm (37.4 in) in height, 115 cm (45.2 in) in length and 43 cm (16.9 in) in width. The wheels have a diameter of 30.5 cm (12 in). The designers have developed their own transmission system with variable gearing, with a patent currently pending.

The company will be showing the Me-Mover at Eurobike, which takes place between August 28-31 in Friedrichshafen, Germany. Visitors will be able to test it both outdoors and indoors. The trike is scheduled for a 2014 release with a price tag of €1,200 (US$1,606).

The video below shows the Me-Mover in action, in bike-friendly Denmark.

Source: Me-Mover

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15 comments
The Skud
Groan! Yet another way to look absolutely stupid - do you ride it on the road, on the footpaths, or simply in recreation areas? Whichever way, start off with great enthusiasm, pull a hamstring or knee cartiledge and then what? Pull out your iPhone I suppose and call a taxi. A bike may be 'old fashioned' but at least it mostly works.
Facebook User
And! "as well as balance improvement", I don't like the sound of that, does it take some learned skill to ride it, walk on it, or whatever. At a weight of 20 kg (44 pounds), and with measurements of: 95 cm (37.4 in) in height, 115 cm (45.2 in) in length and 43 cm (16.9 in) in width I can't see myself climbing into a crowed bus with it, even if it's folded or otherwise. Dan
@paulvcassidy
You see lots of stuff posted here in terms of alternatives to the bike where getting round urban areas are concerned but this seems to steal the show. Very impressive though it's hard to imagine that it took them to the top of a multi-story car park with such ease unless as with Dublin Airport its a single story multi-story car-park. One to watch.
Marilyn Harris
I think it's probably very hard to go up any elevation.....
Marilyn
zevulon
not only is this going to be super slow compared to existing 'elliptical' motion bikes ( i see them in central park in manhattan and they're ok i guess. kinda neat, but pointless too )-----
main problem is this design has a particularly high center of gravity making it extremely dangerous because when (not if ) you get into an accident you are going to hit the ground or seomthing else very hard. a high center of gravity makes accidents more likely , and damage from a given accident far worse than from accidnets on lower cog vehicles. stand up vehicles are bad enough, but this stand up trike puts the riders elliptical motion well above the frame itself. DANGEROUS.
SouthBay Trikke
This Vehicle looks similar to a Trikke Carving Vehicle. The change in foot location and the rise above the vehicle does present a hazard. The vehicle seems to be a bit unstable in the higher position than when in the lower carving form.
Roger Wildermuth
Skud, you ride it 'everywhere' a bicycle is ridden. In EUROPE, where it is designed for,... that is just about anywhere! If you are 'out of shape', or 'accident prone, Skud; perhaps you had better take a taxi!
Roger Wildermuth
Dan, it takes no 'special skills'; if you can walk and maintain your balance, you can Me-Move. When it is 'folded', the rear wheels can be used to pull it like a cart, so it will 'roll' easily, and the wheels make it easy to roll/lift onto a bus or train. You can also attach a bag/pack to the front to carry your shopping items.
Jonas Eliasson
Jonas here. I do have some first hand experience of the me-mover :) Just a quick comment on climbing ability and speed. The first model is called Me-Mover København. It is optimised to a relatively flat topography but have the ability to climb at least 7-8 degrees inclinations which is quite steep. In test labs I ran +20 km/h up a 6 degree inclination.
Speed and effort is comparable to a mtb / traditional womens / gentlemans bike (dame cykel / herrecykel in danish NOT race bike) up to around 20km/h where, due to the upright position, theair resistance is growing fast . As a comparison i drove the 8km home last week with an average of 24km/h and a topspeed of 36 km/h (and yes I was sweaty when I got home :)
People are surprised on the speed you achieve despite the small wheels, this is due to a very efficient transmission and that the human body can output ca 20% higher effect on a stepping motion compared to the rotational movement of a fulcrum.
And it is great fun!
In all, we do not want people to stop biking, we just want to make people move MORE, that is why we are offering a new and exciting way of moving actively i the city.
/j
Roger Wildermuth
zevulon, your 'conclusion' as DANGEROUS does not seem to be proven by the MANY videos of this machine and its prototypes on YouTube. The COG, Center of Gravity, does not seem out of place with other 'Steppers' or Elliptical motion machines on the market. Also this is 'stepper' NOT 'elliptical' motion; and the THREE wheel design is more STABLE and SAFER than two wheels, IMO.