IH02-JasonHu
From IEOR 170 Spring 2007
PERSUASIVE DESIGN FOR THE COMMUNITY:
PUBLIC-USE EXERCISE EQUIPMENT FOR ELECTRICITY OR CREDIT
Target User Group:
BART (or other public transit) riders who are… • Capable of using exercise equipment • Carry portable electronic devices • Looking to save money
The Problem:
Many members of the community do not get enough exercise. In my own experience, this often due to lack of convenient access to equipment, money, or psychological incentives other than my own health. In providing exercise equipment to the public, we can hopefully also relieve the condition of modern society that people often need to recharge their portable electronic devices, yet are unable access to an appropriate recharger. Other members of the public might yet be convinced by the opportunity to save money.
Proposed Solution:
Public-use exercise equipment (bikes, etc) are placed at BART stations (both inside and outside of gates) and bus stops. This equipment is adapted to generate electricity for one of two possible incentives… 1. The electricity generated may be used to charge any of the public’s portable electronic devices (cell phones, laptops, ipods, etc) through the many attached outlets or plugs. 2. The electricity generated is traded to the City of Berkeley in exchange for BART or AC transit credits proportional to the wattage generated. Thus, the many hours spent every day waiting at these public transit depots can be used to improve personal physical condition as well as charge personal electronics or earn public transportation credits.
(I created the photomontage myself though I did not take either photograph)
The Economics of Bicycle Power Generation:
It must be noted that the average person is able to generate approximately 100 Watts over an hour by bicycle. According to current PG&E rates, at this rate, it would take many thousands of hours of pedaling to generate the few dollars to cover even a short Bart ride. Electricity is just way too cheap for the credit/power exchange to be 1:1. This proposal cannot pay for itself. The City of Berkeley must shoulder some of the cost of trading people perhaps ~$1 credit per 20 watt-hours. This part of the proposal requires the money and support of a public policy decision.
Context and Social Forces:
• Are people willing to exercise – potentially to sweat – in the Bart station? Do they have the energy for it either before or after their busy day at work? In the middle of a crowd of rush hour commuters?
• As with any device that is provided for public-use with little supervision, the risk of vandalism is always present. Thus, the exercise equipment must be highly durable. This is tricky since many electronic plugs are easily rendered useless.
• Also, as the equipment gets older and older, people may be less apt to use them since they are perceived as dirtier and dirtier. The installation of the equipment requires continued upkeep by the ground staff.
• How susceptible is this system to abuse? Can homeless people start running a “business” in which they’ll generate tickets for you in exchange for money? Homeless people might not be willing to exert so much effort for so little return. This abuse could be reduced by requiring an ID swipe for every usage and limit every ID to just one hour per day.
• However, an ID requirement disenfranchises certain populations including minors, undocumented immigrants, etc.
Related Projects:
• University of Massachusetts (http://www.ecocollegechallenge.com/ecc/umass.php)
• Pedal Powered Electricity Generator from Windstream (http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/pedal-powered-electricity-generator-windstream/)
