by Claudia Chan | A $9 bicycle made out of recyclable cardboard sounds almost unfathomable, but not to Israeli designer Izhar Gafni, who spent three years developing the idea. Take a look at his creation, a bike called The Alfa. Weighing only 20lbs, it’s able to support riders up to 485lbs! It can also withstand water and humidity, and Gafni claims that it’s stronger than carbon fibre. Without a doubt, this is a positive revolution in bicycle culture and sustainable design. Hopefully it inspire similar innovations. A cardboard car, perhaps?
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First, old news. Second, it costs$9 to make. How much do you want to bet that this design “protected worldwide by a series of patents” will end up costing the end user much, much more. Judging by the demand and by the hipster worship surrounding it, the price will easily reach into the mid-hundreds. Add to that proprietary parts that you can only get from one manufacturer for the rest of our lifetimes (yay patents).
At least metal bike frames can be cobbled together or repaired by anyone with access to a welder or bolts and a drill. The Honda Super Cub brought affordable *powered* transportation to millions, especially in the poorer parts of east Asia. Even some 60 years later, those Cubs (many of them older than your entire target demographic) are still all over the place. THAT was a revolution, this is just a capitalist fantasy.
“Without a doubt, this is a positive revolution in bicycle culture and sustainable design. Hopefully it inspire similar innovations. A cardboard car, perhaps?”
Cardboard cars would not be sustainable innovation. Getting people out of cars would be.
This is so awesome! Thanks.