[Empact]

Yeah, here (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhxVtUFZVzk) they claim 2x the efficiency of bicycling, thanks to aerodynamics. There are some serious logistical challenges - e.g. to address the problem of slow people & free riders you might have to detect and incentivize/reward contributing (human) power to the system.

But the low-weight, self-powered approach means it's probably the lowest-cost system to mount above the current din of street life, which could end up being a big benefit.

I'd file it under strange/interesting, rather than crazy/ridiculous

[hugh3]

I think the worst problem is breakdowns. Given a bunch of complicated mechanical devices zooming around the place all day long being pedaled by people with no incentive to be careful, how often is one going to get jammed? I'd say pretty often. And then your entire line is filled with angry commuters dangling in plastic tubes above the ground while you have to go get a crane to fix it.

Still, a small-scale deployment might work. I can imagine it on a university campus. I can't imagine any city installing it, simply because there are too many voters who would say "damned if I'm going to get into a little plastic tube and pedal while everybody looks at my legs".

[yrb]

I don't think breakdowns would be much of an issue, for one they aren't complicated mechanical devices in the slightest, they seem to be even more minimal than a bicycle.

The difference between waiting a couple of hours for a crane one day every few months, seems like a good tradeoff against sitting in gridlock everyday or the risk of being run down by a car imho.

But yes I agree that humans are not rational and would not do it for petty reasons. Can easily solve the 'look at my legs' problem with opaque tubes :P