One of the entries that we received in the commuter bike competition was this one called “Connect” by David Boyce. This bike design locks into a proprietary rack by way of a mechanism that is integrated into the frame. To me, this idea just didn’t really fit the competition’s design brief, but I want to pass it along anyway. Maybe something like this could work for a City bike sharing program or something like that. Any thoughts?

Read more about this concept from the designer in his own words:

CONNECT
Get on your bike, Get connected

User Research
“Cycle theft is the single greatest deterrent to cycling use after the fears over road safety.”
The Department of the Environment Transport and the Regions (www.bikeoff.org)

Solution
The CONNECT bike scheme tackles the causes of bike crime in two unique ways. Firstly the bike itself has been simplified and devalued making it perfect for people who are looking for ease of use over performance. Combining this with its iconic and easily recognisable shape means it holds no value for the thief, removing the desire for it to be stolen. A “coasting” gearing system, similar to that produced by Shimano, gives three gears, perfectly designed for city use. Stop the bike by applying backwards pressure to the pedals. Secondly the CONNECT bike is designed to lock directly into the CONNECT bike racks. Their fixed location allows the locks to be much more substantial than a rider could carry. A unique key allows the user to lock into the racks whilst the rack loops over the front wheel to keep it secure.