Reinventing the Bicycle, Reinventing the World

In Europe, in many areas of Asia, and in many of the inner cities of the U.S, transportation and communications (logistics) are determined by what is both practical and affordable. The consumer has a vote on these issues and the consumer’s vote is now a business case in marketing.?

In the inner cities of America and the world, logistics (communications) and transportation are now often provided by electric scooters and bikes.?

Reinvention?

Arguably, the motor bike was invented by Alphonse Millet of France:

who may have been influenced by the radial motors used for flight. Millet applied the concept to the back wheels of bicycles* resulting in the motor-cycle:?

Soon after, the engine was applied to 4-wheel carriages resulting in the?motor car?or "automobile" inspired by Cugnot’s invention of the steam-powered, cannon barrel carrier (farrier):

just as it inspired motorized carriages, the predecessors to today's autos:

In America

The reinvention of the bicycle occurred when mountain bikes were created to accommodate the off-road needs of Marin County, California residents, just as beach riders accommodate an older population in numerous resort areas of our country and the world. Sit-down scooters and motorcycles were redesigned to suit both the elderly and an ease and comfort-seeking populace:

As important as comfort and off-road capability, was the issue of public safety, an issue magnified by pedestrian complaints that stopped the evolution of the bicycle several times since its invention in 1818.? Needless to say, the development of the motorcycle aggravated the safety issue.?

Update?

Asian and European cities increasingly utilize bicycles and scooters for transportation. The hybrid nature of work since the Covid-19 pandemic has not altered the need to physically deliver food and documents in our cities.?Increasingly, motor scooters used for communications and logistics in our cities, are battery powered:

The electric motor scooter has lowered the level of air pollution in many Asian and European cities. In order for electric scooters, e-bikes, e-motorcycle, e-automobiles, e-SUVs and FCEVs to catch on in a cleaner and greener US and world, they will be supported by green hydrogen-powered battery recharge and exchange centers.

As Vaclav Smil and Pierre Teilhard de Chardin assert, changes in energy, though essential to Civilization and now increasingly essential to the survival of our planet, occur slowly and in stages.

Taiwan?

Taiwan’s Gogoro, supported by the Sogo Shosha (trading group) Sumitomo, and Morocco have taken a leadership role in changing how the world uses battery power for logistics.?

A Look Back

From August 1, 2018, in LinkedIn: Noor 1, the first phase of the Moroccan plant, has already surpassed expectations in terms of the amount of energy it has produced. It is an encouraging result in line with Morocco’s goal to reduce its fossil fuel bill by focusing on renewables while still meeting growing energy needs that are increasing by about 7% per year. Morocco’s stable government and economy have helped it secure funding. The European Union contributed 60% of the cost of Morocco's Ouarzazate Project,

The country plans [planned] to generate 14% of its energy from solar by 2020 and by adding other renewable sources like wind and water into the mix, it is aiming to produce 52% of its own energy by 2030. This puts Morocco more or less in line with countries like the UK, which wants to generate 30% of its electricity from renewables by the end of the decade, and the US, where President Obama set a target of 20% by 2030.?But:

Trump and the climate change deniers have threatened to dump renewables, but his actions may not have a huge impact. Many policies are controlled by individual states and big companies have already started to switch to cleaner and cheaper alternatives.

Next: Generational Change

*See. "From Bikes to Flight" -written in Linkedin, in 2020.

** I have intercalated images, titles, subtitles and highlights when and where appropriate in order to more effectively deliver this message. Attribution is made for the Art, literature, film, lyrics, photography, music and footnotes for the ideas of others - whenever possible and appropriate. Otherwise, the intuitions and disciplined inspirations - are mine.

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