1 1^
Eligono inventor Jan VanderTuin (above) hopes the utility bikes he created will catch
on as practical alternative to fuel-run vehicles Vender Turn demonstrates (below) how
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the specially-designed bikes have a great carrying capacity
New bikes introduced
By Soo May Wong
■ butoc
II Jan VariderTuin has Ills way, the local definition
ot hiking will take on a new meaning
Instead of perfecting the < out ept of Inking lor pleas
tire and recreation. VandorTuin, a local hike builder, is
introducing the notion of utility hiking with a purpose
Vaiuler'Tuni s utility hikes large enough to sustain
a 1 HO-pound load and small enough to lie maneuvered
in the streets of New York are limit lor purpose- is
varied as food delivers child carrying, street vending,
touring and ramping
More importantly, these hikes oiler an alternative to
fuel -run vehu les Vunder 1 uin said
"Americans rels too heavily on fuel run vehicles
I hls olten results in inefficient use of resources, he
said Often, you'll see a lug vail transporting two hags
ot groceries and lot's of empty space II a hike is used
to deliver those hags of groceries or pi/./.a around the
neighborhood, an enormous amount of resources, en
ergs and money i an lie saved
\ under 1 inn. who has been studying the com ept ot
utility hikes for more than 10 years, became involved
with the hikes while working with a market gardening
cooperative iif.li Zurich. Switzerland Hi- was looking
Inr utilitv bikes or i-yc de-traders to haul produce and
milk hill found tin- <ommerciully-nuide hikes inappro
priate
Members ol the i o up then derided to design and
(null) their own hikes I Ins started .1 proi ess nl re
search ami networking that VanderTuin bei ime in
volved m
Using utility bikes for urban delivery services is an
old concept that can be traced back to the late tilth
1 entury in Western Europe, VanderTuin said
A classic UtjfO's model from which VanderTuin
adapted "lamg Jan, .1 ‘l-loot-long utility bike with a
load capacity of 1 HO Ills , has been plying the European
streets for more than Mi sears I his Danish creation
used for delivery purposes, has remained unchanged
over the years and is still popularly used today.
(furiously, despite the widespread use of utility
bikes in Europe. Amerii a lias liren slow to c atch on to
this concept An obsession with automobiles seems to
be the reason for tills. VanderTuin said
"Automobiles are still worshiped in America,' he
said
However, tins does not seem to daunt Vender'Turn 's
desire to promote utility bikes among Amerii ans
In the following months, VanderTuin will be pre
senting slide shows and give talks to promote his utili
ty bikes He is also exploring the possibility of working
in cooperation with a professor or graduate student at
the University to study the advantages of utility bikes
m the city
VanderTuin's slide show will he held Aug If) at the
Eugene Water and Electric Hoard from 7 to It) p 111
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