Power to the pedal competition

Power to the pedal design competition <--click here to enter

The push for bicycle use is gaining global relevance not just as a leisure activity, but as a solution to a range of problems like pollution, congestion, rising gas prices and issues surrounding community health. In urban areas around the world, advocacy groups are staking a claim for bicycles and educating the public about the benefits of biking as a means of transport, fitness and fun.
Promoting bicycle use also means enabling it; local governments are being tasked to improve infrastructure to create more convenient and safer routes as well as incentives for biking. City initiatives like Bike to Work Day and other bike share projects are promoting public awareness of the positive impact of biking on health, wellbeing and the environment.
This competition calls for a biking accessory or add-on for existing bikes that would improve the bicycling experience and encourage more people to make biking their primary means of transport – more convenient, more enjoyable, safer and more integrated into daily lifestyles – whether it's for commuting, working, shopping, transporting, leisure or all of the above. In your description, you should define the user scenario and design problem that your design attempts to solve.
You cannot enter any design that already exists on the market or has been put into commercial production, or that you do not own the rights to.
Note: The submission and announcement deadlines may be subject to change.

Judging Criteria

Judging criteria specific to this competition are:

Overall effectiveness: How well does the solution provide an answer to the design problem?

Creativity: How innovative and cost-effective is the thinking behind the design?

Practicality: How successfully can the design be produced or put into practice? Can it be adapted for local production? Does it add to the safety of the cyclist, too?

Aesthetics: How strong is the design in terms of overall form and presentation?

Ecology: How well does the design respond to environmental concerns through considerations such as choice of materials, production techniques, life-span, upgrade, durability, weight, recycle, or re-use factors?

Prizes: 1st prize: $5000, 2nd prize: $3000, 3rd prize: $1500, Most Popular prize: $500


Application Closes: 30/04/2008
Public Voting: 01/05/2008 - 13/05/2008
Results Announcement: 20/05/2008