Vanenbrink is Dutch for “kickassed design” or at least “Out-there design”… don’t believe me check out some of their other projects.
Here’s how they describe this little environmental oddity:
Mitka: a New Mobility concept for individual transport at short distances.The Mitka is a new environmentally friendly vehicle, which has been developed in a joint research project (TU Delft, TNO, Gazelle, Nike) for future mobility. It is very suitable for distances between 5 and 20 kilometers, and has been tested by Nike Europe.
The Mitka has several innovative design features, such as a rain protection system, power assistance (‘going by the wind’) and a three-wheel chassis design for natural corner leaning. The intelligent dashboard provides a palmtop-computer for travel information.
Concept design by Vandenbrink.
Cool enough. I’d definitely like to give her a test ride. Thanks again to Jo B. for the scoopage!
1. December 2007 at 1:39 pm
I would love to build a 3 wheeled leaning scooter like that but I am stuck on how to control the lean. Very cool stuff!
2. December 2007 at 8:44 am
I don’t think we need any “new mobility concepts” for short distances. If you want to go 5-20 km, how about a bicycle?
I want to see new mobility concepts for very long distances, from 100 km on up. That’s where the current options tend to get limited and less environmentally-friendly.
2. December 2007 at 11:11 pm
Right on!
Mobility concepts are nothing more than muscle use avoidance. For short distances nothing beats a bycicle. Better for your health, better for the environment.
Most mobility concepts are really just gadgets. They have some cool tech in them, but are other wise useless. Look at the segway. Steve Jobs claimed that it would be “as big a deal as the PC” It costs between $5,145 and $6,175. Only does 13mph. Weighs from approximately 65 to 100 pounds. And will travel 15-24 miles on a charge. It’s also been banned from sidewalk use in many cities.
Not much of a big deal to the average person.
26. November 2008 at 12:10 am
It’s a beautifully-elegant machine stuck in concept mode.
I’d buy one for my commute.
As you grow older, and your knees start to wear, a little power-assist can go a long way toward keeping you fit and mobile.
I love and have ridden bikes for over forty years, but I cannot ride large distances due to knee pain, so this type of vehicle is fabulous; I can pedal on the flats, and kick-in the elctric assist for hills.