Industrial - Bachelors
Roll 'n Ride is a bicycle transportation system integrated with bus public transit. A lack of a method to transport bicycles to complete the post-bus leg of the trip reduces the willingness to use either as the primary transportation option. This concept encourages the use of more active mobility and public transportation as an alternative to car dependency in everyday journeys.
Congestion on roads is getting worse and will not go away anytime soon. Public transit and active mobility options are an alternative for people to complete their journeys. However, integrating and utilising both methods can be difficult due to the inability to bring personal active mobility transportation onto public transit. Space is limited and prioritised for passenger transportation, and bringing larger objects is prohibited, as is the case with bicycles on buses.
Five initial concepts were developed, breaking down into two diverging design directions. The first was focused on enhancing/developing storage solutions at transit stops and stations, emphasising the small local suburban stops. The second direction concentrated on developing a method to bring active mobility transport (with an emphasis on bicycles) on public transport to complete the journey after the public transit leg.
The latter direction was chosen for further development as it had the potential to have a more significant effect on increasing the usage of public transport and active mobility as the primary transportation option. The ability to use a bike before and after riding public transit increases the catchment radius of stops and the range in which a person is willing to travel to their destination.
Roll ‘n Ride is a storage solution that provides the ability for passengers to bring their bicycles with them and use to reach their final destination. Bikes are placed on the racks and clamp down. They are then lifted up and slotted horizontally into the carriages. Both carriages are then hoisted up on top of the bus and stowed away while the bus is in transit. The passenger can then access their bike at their designated stop.
Roll ‘n Ride operates using winched cable hoists as well as horizontal and vertical guide rails for the movement of the carriages. The bikes are secured to the racking with spring-loaded clamps that clamp onto the wheel and support the frame of the bike when it is in the horizontal position. The rack with the bike is returned to its slot in the carriage and, while doing so, turned nighty-degrees into a horizontal positioning.
A gas compression load-lifting mechanism assists in lifting the rack with the bike into its carriage slot. This significantly reduces the weight that is required to be lifted. Additionally, the mechanism chambered in the opposite configuration slows down the descent of the rack when lowered, reducing the effort required by the user to access their stored bike.
A safety warning is projected underneath the area where the carriages will be lowered. The projectors are mounted on the bottom of the bus and projects the warning when the system is activated and before the carriages have started to move.
This is to ensure that pedestrians are not standing underneath the area which the carriages will soon occupy.
In addition to the warning projection, several other safety features are embedded as part of the system.
– Obstacle and pedestrian collision sensors that scan the area underneath and around the carriage. If a collision is predicted or imminent, the lowering speed is reduced, or the carriages are stopped entirely.
– Flashing warning lights to create further awareness of the lowering objects working in conjunction with the safety warning projection as visual indicators.
– A warning sound is played in a loop while the system lowers. The sound is unique as to disassociate with other warning sounds (e.g. backing-up truck) to create an association with this specific scenario to create further awareness of the situation.
Biking is faster than walking. The distance and time required to walk to and from a stop may be too great that it becomes a deterring factor. It may not be walkable, but it is bikeable.
Having the ability to use a bike to replace the walking legs of the journey breaks down reasons not to take the bus rather than to drive.
In lower-density residential areas, walking to the bus stop may very well be too far. With a bike, however, the effective catchment radius of a bus stop increases by a factor of 3-4. This provides a much-needed alternative to car dependency in the outer suburbs.
The implemented system would encourage trips that aren’t just commuting or single-purpose trips. Instead, it allows for chained trips with several stops along the way to the destination.
The advantage of storing bikes on the roof is that it doesn’t reduce the passenger capacity of the bus as compared to interior bike storage solutions. Additionally, it doesn’t reduce/use the handicap priority seating area, the only large enough area for bikes internally.
Roll ‘n Ride provides a social safety net for those who do not have access to a car or cannot drive. It allows them to complete multiple long-distance or chained trips by utilising public transit and then biking to the destinations. Walking is still possible but would take far longer.
Roll ‘n Ride would be but one component in a broader active mobility transportation system by providing the infrastructure to enable these trips to be made. It would also encourage implementing a complete system to provide a viable car-alternative transportation method for everyday trips.
Public transport is about providing a social service and utility. While it may take more time and can be inconvenient, it provides a certain service, especially for those who need it or don’t have alternatives.
Another rationale for storing bikes on the roof aside from passenger capacity is the length limitation of buses. Buses are built to the maximum length allowed on roads to maximise passenger capacity. However, front or rear bike racks would increase this length. This would be an issue when the bus is turning as it increases its turning radius. Narrow roads, inner-city streets and underground roads (e.g. Brisbane Busway) would be problematic to navigate. Additional safety concerns exist when passengers have to stand on the road to store their bikes. Front and rear-mounted racks are also subject to opportunistic theft as they are accessible at any time the bus is not in motion.
In regards to height, the general minimum on-road height clearance is 4.5m, with most bridges’ clearance also being that. With Roll ‘n Ride added on top of existing buses, it would not exceed 4.2m.
Complete system
Housing unit and lifting arm
Loaded carriages
Unloaded carriages
Bike racks
The housing unit and carriages are steel frames with fibreglass panelling. The steel frame provides a rigid structure, while the fibreglass panelling is lightweight and provides the aesthetics.
The lifting arm is made of carbon fibre and steel to balance strength, longevity, weight and cost.
The bike racks are cast moulded anodised aluminium. Aluminum was chosen for its durability relative to its light weight.
The wheel clamps are moulded aluminium with rubber padding for the tyre clamp and function using extension springs.
The colour scheme is easily interchangeable and would be chosen to fit the with aesthetics of the bus fleet of any local city/region.
Phase one of the project involved researching the topic areas and analysing existing solutions or the lack of them. From that, some initial design concepts were drawn to explore and later determine possible design directions that could be a potential solution. Phase two consisted of further developing the chosen concept from the initial ideas. Possibilities and limitations were explored to improve and refine the design. Finally, phase three involved testing the idea, which was primarily done in CAD due to the scale of the design. Limited physical testing was also conducted but more to the effect of exploring spatial considerations. After testing, further refinement and alterations, the design was delivered.
Jason is a designer studying a dual degree in Design (Industrial) and Business (Management). He has developed a wide range of skills with a particular passion for woodworking. Transportation, wood-based products and furniture design are his topics of interest.