2005
A bike for less than $US35
Aka : One less car
concept
The OLC bike is a very simple, cheap, “one size fits all” plywood bicycle for the mass market. The materials are all cheap and easily available and, importantly the materials are all recyclable or recycled. OLC is quickly assembled through the use of CNC technology. The majority of elements are glued rather than mechanically fixed, providing the bike with incredible strength from modest materials.
Target market
The target market is the mass market. The price of the bike [$US35] makes it almost a disposable item and a disposable solution for our cities transportation problems. It is imagined that a company like IKEA with a loyal market looking for well designed quick and cheap solutions for everyday living could produce and sell substantial quantities of OLC using technologies already in place.
Features
OLC has reduced the modern bicycle to its bare bones. Constructed from plywood the bike is cheap and easily constructed. The bike has only 2 gears. The gears, chain, cogs, brakes and lights are all concealed within the ply webs of the bike carcass.