Here are some Mindmaps showing the various advantages & disadvantages of different lightweight portable transport (LPT) tools. Please let us know if you feel additional information needs to be included.
Download a PDF of the above mindmap HERE
Download a PDF of the above mindmap HERE
Download a PDF of the above mindmap HERE
To see a far more in depth analysis of the pros and cons of various lightweight portable transport gadgets click HERE
Download PDF
It’s about time we each take responsibility for saving our climate & stand on our own two wheels! The chart below was made in 2015, see menu for an updated version with far more information.
Note: table is based on information online in 2015. Phunkeeduck details may be incorrect – received no response from the company to confirm. If you see any errors or have any useful suggestions please let me know.
Download this table
Lean Machines PDF
Lean Machines Word file
See this post in Mandarin Chinese (看中文版)
In case you plan to buy one and intuition isn’t telling you which one to go for then you can make a decision matrix using the table. A great technique if it’s done well. Click below to see an example.
The text below is really important if you’re going to learn to ride a self-balancing scooter. It’s based on my own experiences learning the Hovertrax.
Learning to Ride an Electric Self-balancing Scooter
Self-balancing electric foot scooters are fun and convenient but not as safe as you might think. It’s essential that you master the following steps before even considering riding beside a road, in a busy public place or other challenging environment.
When learning you will need a safe place with lots of space and a large open flat surface such as a running track, the center of a gymnasium, a tennis court or a playground.
Before going out with your scooter
1. Understand the functions
Read the manual and other information carefully and make sure you know how to turn it on, off, and so on.
2. Understand the concept
Before you hop on, be sure you understand the concept of how it works and can visualise how the angles of the feet correlate with speed and turning.
Tilt forward = go forwards.
Tilt back = go backwards.
Right tilt forwards, left back = turn left
Left tilt forwards, right back = turn right
You can practice angling and turning your hands or sit on a chair or edge of a bed putting your feet on the device while it’s switched off pretending you’re riding.
In a safe practice location
3. Getting on
Put your dominant foot level on the scooter and bring the other foot up quickly.
4. Getting off
Step off behind the scooter keeping one foot level on the platform to prevent the scooter rolling away.
5. Stopping
Practice regular stopping as well as abrupt stopping at high speeds. For high speed stopping as you tilt your feet back crouch down with hands level to the ground until you reach a stop. You should aim to be able to come to a complete stop in the shortest possible distance (about 1 to 1.5 m for the Hovertrax at near top speed).
6. Turning
Practice turning on the spot (one foot tilting back, the other tilting forward) and turning at speed (one foot level, the other tilting forward). You could use plant pots or other such objects to form a practice slalom course.
7. Reversing
Practice going backwards.
8. Reversing & turning
Practice going backwards and turning.
9. Stepping off while moving
Many foot scooters may get stuck on rough terrain. To prepare for this learn to step off while going at speed. Be extra careful because if when you step off your foot pushes down on one side of the platform the scooter will move in the corresponding direction. It could zoom out from under your feet or even back under your feet.
Go slowly in a straight line and then while moving take a quick and little step putting one foot in front of the machine resting on your toes with the heel up. Then follow with a larger step with your other foot flat on the ground. The first foot should stabilize you and stop the machine from rolling on as it goes into the sole of your shoe.
10. Speed & stability
Only once you’re ready and have fully mastered the other steps should you very carefully and very gradually have a go at seeing how fast you can go safely maintaining stability. Take multiple goes, each time increasing your speed a little more. Once the speed control tilts you back, or the device strains or wobbles then slow down right away. You must never try to increase the speed beyond this point otherwise the device may not have enough power to keep up with your leaning and you could fall.
At speed you must make absolutely sure that you keep both feet as level as possible on the platforms to keep a straight line.
Summary
Download the above text as a PDF:
Learning to ride an electric self-balancing scooter
Links
See here for a comparison table of self-balancing electric Wheels like the Solowheel
Great video review of Solowheel, Hovertrax, Phunkeeduck & the zBoard Pro
World Peace
The Global Community (intermediate to advanced)
Zones of Peace (intermediate to advanced)
Christian Church Opens Doors to Muslims + Quizlet
Germany’s anti-Islam Marches (advanced)
Excerpts from A New Beginning Obama’s Speech for the Muslim World in Cairo (advanced)
A New Beginning Obama’s Speech for the Muslim World in Cairo (advanced)
A New Beginning Obama’s Speech for the Muslim World in Cairo (Chinese translation)
A New Beginning Obama’s Speech for the Muslim World in Cairo (Arabic translation)
The Environment
Legal Limit on Vehicles Idling Set to be Enforced + Quizlet (The above text)
Link to related video
London Drivers Face Idling Fine + Quizlet
The Bicycle Kingdom Starts Living up to its Name (intermediate to advanced)
Questions about cycling in the city
Now that’s a First Class Delivery! Posties Trial Futuristic Electric UNICYCLES + Quizlet
Filling a City With Moving Walkways + Quizlet (intermediate to advanced)
Link to Video
*A Short History of Nearly Everything (excerpt) + Quizlet (The above text) (intermediate to advanced)
*A Short History of Nearly Everything (full text) + Quizlet (advanced)
A Short History of Nearly Everything (Quizlet flashcards)
*(About Claire Patterson: the man who campaigned to get lead taken out of petrol)
Rise of the Asian Megacity + Quizlet (advanced)
City Sponsored Study Touts Benefits of Pedestrian Plazas and Bike Lanes + Quizlet (The above text)
Paris Launches Electric Car-Sharing Scheme (created by Rob at Davids English)
Questions about electric vehicles and car sharing
Looking for the Happiest Place on Earth. Head Straight for Denmark + Quizlet
People in Taiwan Waste about NT$240 Billion Worth of Food per Year: Poll + Quizlet
Penguins’ Slick New Look: Woolly Jumpers Help Save Hundreds of Birds Caught in Oil Spills + Quizlet
‘Penguins’ Slick New Look’ article (Quizlet flashcards printout)
In 2015 we hosted the ‘Let’s Clear the Air’ poster contest. The two themes were: ‘Stop Engine Idling’ and/or ‘Use green/public transport.’ Pictures related to one or both of these themes.
The competition had three age groups:
1:Elementary school
2:Junior High School
3:Senior High school
The artists of the top three posters in each age category have been awarded certificates, and their posters are displayed below. The top poster in each age category will be reproduced in the form of stickers or cards. These stickers or cards will be given to people in challenging financial situations (such as homeless people) for them to sell. So by participating the students will help the world, children’s health, their school’s reputation, as well as those in need of an income.
The Winnning Posters
Elementary school
Junior High School
Senior High School
See this post in Mandarin Chinese
See here for more information about engine idling
Click here for ideas & advice on making the posters in class
Idling engines wastes fuel and money, reduces engine life, emits greenhouse gases, and creates harmful air and noise pollution.
If you would like to help improve the air quality wherever you are then you can print the pictures out yourself and distribute (copyright free). Good places to display or distribute the images include within schools, school gates, driving schools, scooter and car dealerships, bus and train stations, refuse collection vehicle compounds, car parks and construction sites. Putting up images by elevators, urinals, or anyplace where people stop is likely to be effective. If you want to help this campaign then please like and share this post. You can also contact Luc via the contact form or send an email to: Luc@peacemakerfoundation.com.
If you work for a bus, coach, taxi or delivery company then click HERE
A brilliant engine idling animation done by Matino (www.studiomatino.com) for the Peacemaker Foundation. Thank you Matino!
1. Health effects of air pollution‘Emissions from motor vehicles … have a severe impact on air quality and public health.’(1) Air pollution from vehicles has many health effects including ‘cardio-vascular disease, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and diabetes,’(2) respiratory problems, allergic illnesses, pregnancy and birth problems, influence on male fertility, risk of death, cardiopulmonary problems, increased risk of heart attack, and changes in the autonomic nervous system.(3) ‘Idling vehicles suffer from less ventilation inside the vehicle leading to a toxic buildup of pollutants.’(4) Idling vehicles can create far more pollution than if they were moving.(5) Motorbikes and scooters often emit far more pollution than cars.(6) Children are particularly susceptible to the effects of pollution.(7) Many parents and school bus drivers idle their engines when they drop off and pick up their children from school creating pollution hot spots.(8)
Conclusion: Idling is a serious issue and it is especially important to stop idling around schools.
‘Idling for over 10 seconds uses more fuel and produces more CO2 emissions than restarting your engine.’(9) ‘Every gallon of gas burned emits nearly 25 pounds of carbon dioxide and other global-warming gases into the atmosphere.’(10) ‘A vehicle idling for five minutes produces more than a quarter kilogram (271.4 grams) of the greenhouse gases that are destabilizing our planet’s climate patterns.’(11)
Idling is noisy. Research indicates that traffic noise ‘harms the health and well-being of children,’(12) impacts work quality and bio-chemistry, and increases tension, blood pressure and pulse frequency.(13)
‘An idling car uses between 1/5 to 7/10 of a gallon of fuel an hour. An idling diesel truck burns approximately one gallon of fuel an hour.’(5)
In America it is estimated that reducing idling would generally save between US$70-650 (NT 1,824 – 19,761 as of January 2014 ) a year for one vehicle.(5) In the UK it is estimated that reduction of idling ‘could save businesses as much as £3.3 billion per year in fuel’ (NT 164.88 billion as of January 2014).(14) ‘Letting an engine idle actually does more damage to the engine than starting and stopping. Running an engine at low speed (idling) causes twice the wear on internal parts compared to driving at regular speeds, which can increase maintenance costs and shorten the life of the engine.’(15)
Information sources
(1) Environmental Protection Agency in Taiwan. (2010). Control of mobile sources of air pollution (移動污染源管制). Retrieved 01/02/2014 from: http://www.epa.gov.tw/en/epashow.aspx?list=99&path=128&guid=8d668c67-e27f-4a96-ac41-323149899ff2&lang=en-us
(2) John Wargo, Ph.D., Linda Wargo, MES., Nancy Alderman, MES. (2006). (The Harmful Effects of Vehicle Exhaust. A Case for Policy Change.Environment & Human Health, Inc. Retrieved January 2014 from: http://www.ehhi.org/reports/exhaust/exhaust06.pdf (www.ehhi.org)
(3) Krzyzanowski, M., Kuna-Dibbert, B., & Schneider, J. (2005). Health effects of transport-related air pollution. WHO Europe. Retrieved January 2014 from: http://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/74715/E86650.pdf
(4) Clean Air Network Briefing Paper on the Motor Vehicle Idling (FIXED PENALTY) Bill. (n.d.). Hong Kong Clean Air Network. Retrieved March 22, 2014, from http://www.hongkongcan.org/doclib/Briefing%20Paper%20on%20Motor%20Vehicle%20Idling%20(English).pdf
(5) Environmental Defense Fund. Attention drivers! Turn off your idling engines. Retrieved January 2014 from: http://www.edf.org/transportation/reports/idling
(6) Vasic, AM,& Weilenmann, M. (2005) Comparison of Real-World Emissions from Two-Wheelers and Passenger Cars. Environmental Science and Technology, 40 (1), 149–154. Retrieved January 2014 from: http://www.researchgate.net/publication/7340852_Comparison_of_real-world_emissions_from_two-wheelers_and_passenger_cars
(7) Kleinman, MT. (2000). The Health Effects Of Air Pollution On Children.
South Coast Air Quality Management District. Retrieved January 2014 from: http://www.aqmd.gov/forstudents/health_effects_on_children.html
(8) United States Environmental Protection Agency. Idle Free Schools. Retrieved January 2014 from: http://www2.epa.gov/region8/idle-free-schools
(9) Government of Canada. Natural Resources Canada. (2013). Emission impacts resulting from vehicle idling. Retrieved January 2014 from: http://www.nrcan.gc.ca/node/4415
(10) Union of concerned scientists. (2014). 1 gallon of gas = 25 pounds of global warming emissions. Retrieved January 2014 from: http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_vehicles/why-clean-cars/global-warming/
(11) Idle Facts Smog Summit.(n.d.). clean air partnership. Retrieved March 25, 2014, from: http://www.cleanairpartnership.org/idle/idlefree_appendices1to4.pdf
(12) Cornell University. (2001). Researchers Find Everyday Traffic Noise Harms The Health And Well-Being Of Children. ScienceDaily. Retrieved January 2014 from: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2001/05/010523072445.htm
(13) Ising, H., Dienel, D., Günther, T., & Markert, B. (1980). Health effects of traffic noise. International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health, 47(2), 179-190. Retrieved January 2014 from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7440003
(14) Fleet News. (2013). Engine idling costs businesses £3.3 billion in wasted fuel per year. Retrieved January 2014 from: http://www.fleetnews.co.uk/news/2013/8/21/engine-idling-costs-businesses-33-billion-in-wasted-fuel-per-year/48058/
(15) EPA New England. (2002). What You Should Know About Truck Engine Idling. Retrieved January 2014 from: http://www.epa.gov/region1/eco/diesel/pdfs/Diesel_Factsheet_Truck_Idling.pdf
5 Reasons to STOP idling (The above text)
5 Reasons to STOP idling (Taiwan version)
Posters
5 Reasons to STOP idling poster
5 Reasons to STOP idling poster (Taiwan version)
America
http://www.sustainableamerica.org
http://nyc.missionelectric.org/2013/12/27/new-york-citys-efforts-to-stop-idling/
http://www.idlethreatmovie.com/
http://tri1025.com/city-of-fort-collins-breathe-easy-anti-idling-campaign-video-interview/
Around schools: interweaving stop-idling campaigns with children’s education
Click to access Make%20a%20Good%20Choice..Choose%20No%20Idling_Lesson%20PLan.pdf
http://www2.epa.gov/region8/idle-free-schools
http://www.cleanaircampaign.org/Your-Schools/About-Clean-Air-Schools
Around the World
http://earthitude.com/ A great up and coming website by my friend Rey. Collection of resources, and a lot of eye-opening information on green living and saving the Earth. Take a look!
Hong Kong
Free stickers and posters provided by the HK government: http://www.epd.gov.hk/epd/english/environmentinhk/air/prob_solutions/idling_publicity_materials.html
http://www.cleartheair.org.hk/
http://www.hongkongcan.org/doclib/Briefing%20Paper%20on%20Motor%20Vehicle%20Idling%20(English).pdf
Taiwan
The brilliant work in Taipei, Taiwan, by John Fleckenstein, Torch Pratt and others:
B: http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/editorials/archives/2011/05/17/2003503424
C: http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/editorials/archives/2011/09/28/2003514359
Government website: http://plan.chepb.gov.tw/idling/promotion.html
News article and video about anti-idling campaign in Taiwan: http://news.pts.org.tw/detail.php?NEENO=256337
Guide to greener driving: http://ecodriving.itri.org.tw/
Not directly about idling or Taiwan, but if you are thinking about buying a scooter (in Taiwan) then first read this:
http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2005/dec/21/travelandtransport.transportintheuk
Stop idling technology:
Really important. Giving truckers a way to enjoy AC plus more without idling: http://www.idleair.com/
Hybrid refuse collection vehicles means HUGE savings in terms of money and people’s health: http://www.govtech.com/technology/Hybrid-Garbage-Miami-Dade-040511.html
The technology we desperately need as long as we keep using petrol vehicles:
中文版請點這裡 For Mandarin version click HERE
The following copyright free images can be used in the classroom, either for colouring in and adding text or as a reference. Especially suitable for language, science, and art classes. Some text ideas are provided to help ‘kickstart’ the children’s inspiration. Hopefully they won’t be idle.
See this post in Mandarin Chinese 看中文版
In 2015 we held a poster contest. For the results see HERE
LPT* (Lightweight Portable Transport) is on the rise and so is the Earth’s temperature. The idea: Just take a few long roads or routes in a city and make them car-free. At first on weekends, using road blocks, and later perhaps keep them permanently car-free. Simple, cheap, effective, and completely reversible. The pictures below are mostly of Taipei, but this idea could be used in almost any city.
Future additions as per ‘the urban flow plan’ (see HERE)
What about the residents parking?
Residents would be given free parking nearby, compensation or special access to a side lane along the road on condition they drive below 5mph. Electronic ID could automatically open the gate or barrier if there is one.
What about all the cars that need the road to drive on? This just means the adjacent roads will become busier!
Only temporarily. Over time building more roads and car lanes usually increases car traffic (https://doi.org/10.7922/G22805Z9) while giving more road space to bicycles and pedestrians improves traffic.
(https://www.sustrans.org.uk/our-blog/research/common-misconceptions-about-active-travel-investment/)
This is called induced demand and makes sense when you think about it. As nearby roads have more cars they become less pleasant to drive along so less people will. On the other hand if people have far more pleasant and safer LPT journeys as an option some of them will make that switch.
It’s also worth noting that in the early phase roads nearby the Greenway are likely to have less cyclists and others on LPT allowing more space for drivers in that respect.
What about emergency service vehicles and delivery vehicles?
They would be given special access (electronic ID could automatically open the gate or barrier if there is one). It’s highly likely that small lightweight delivery vehicles would emerge rapidly.
I don’t believe this can be done.
“People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it.” (George Bernard Shaw)
In many places around the world various roads have been made car free and the feedback generally has been very good. See HERE and HERE for examples. The only addition with this plan is to devote the road to LPT rather than just give it to pedestrians alone. As technology improves and transport tools become lighter, smaller, safer and more efficient, and as cities become taller and more densely populated this is just one of those things that will need to happen anyway because it makes sense. Let’s just make sure we do it right.
We also really need to do this to allow people to avoid enclosed spaces together and give them safe, healthy travel options. Bike lanes will quickly become too busy to accommodate everyone safely. This can be done immediately with zero infrastructure!
You can get an idea of what this could be like from this video taken in Kuala Lumpur (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WjOh9UtwK-w )and from this Greenway in Beijing which I regard as one of the greatest cycle-superhighways ever designed (https://youtu.be/rJ48RqwHb8s?si=-DC5Van6ljYABurF)
If you like this post then please share it with others!
*LPT (Lightweight Portable Transport) is a term coined by the Peacemaker Foundation meaning any transport tool that is small and light enough to be carried or moved by hand. Examples are bikes, skateboards, rollerskates, scooters, electric wheels (Eucs), self balancing foot scooters (Hoverboards) and Segways.
Update in 2022
I no longer promote the use of ewheels (eucs) given that manufacturers are now making them with such high top speeds which is obviously completely unsafe. So focus is likely to be on scooters, other gadgets and urban commuter systems from now on.
Update in 2020: The Kingsong S series of eWheels are known now to be among the safest. Safety should be your top priority. The Inmotion ewheels also have a good reputation & are the rebranded versions of the original Inventist wheels (such as the Solowheel). Airwheel & various other brands are known to be cheap & of lower quality. A new updated table will hopefully appear here soon but for now see HERE
Below is an old post with outdated information
New terminology suggested by the Peacemaker Foundation
The new inventions are great, but our names for them are not: electric “unicycles” are not unicycles because they involve no cycling. “Hoverboards” don’t hover and they’re not boards. Furthermore when real hoverboards appear it will become even more confusing. Here are some suggested names:
Electric wheel or eWheel (electric self-balancing “unicycle” or “euc”)
Electric Foot Scooter (Self-balancing Dual Motor Electric Foot Scooter – a “hoverboard”)
LPT (Lightweight Portable/Personal Transport: transport involving devices that can be easily carried)
Transportable (Portable transport tool)
Self-balancers (self-balancing transport tools – as listed above)
If you can think of better names then please comment or get in touch.
Viewable PDF format
Word File: Electric Wheels Compared (February 2015)
PDF: Electric Wheels Compared (February 2015)
Winners Podium
Gold medal: Solowheel Orbit and Solowheel Extreme each are the winners in three categories, but they are also the most expensive.
Silver medal: Firewheel and Rockwheel also do quite well with each one winning in two categories. Hovertrax wins two categories as well but loses in four – just depends which categories are more important for you.
Bronze medal: What do you reckon? Perhaps Freeman A4.
Update: Recently a very promising and popular eWheel has been the Gotway which will certainly appear in the next edition of this table.
Author’s opinion
Personally I like the electric foot scooters because they’re easier to learn (apparently) so I bought Hovertrax which is great fun and very well built although it lacks stability at speed and only works well on smooth surfaces. If you have enough money and you value patent ethics you might wish to buy from Inventist seeing as they hold the patents. Furthermore, as of January 2015 the Solowheels generally gets the best reviews, such as on Amazon.
I’ve looked around so you don’t have to. Here are some links to some great videos.
Fantastic review of Solowheel, Hovertrax, Phunkeeduck & the zBoard Pro. Also shows how important it is to ride carefully!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JD1xBI6TK50
Fun advert for the solowheel
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQjUouUhaiU
The Solowheel in London
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_KFIT8nWF8
Fun advert for Ninebot 1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Pu9uz40YdA
Super slick super cool ad for Ninebot 1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ostYmeUs3VU
Fun advert for IPS F400
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPu-amSMs7U
Airwheel Mail Delivery
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAlDe1DOU3A
Airwheel stunts
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tz05Cyzuo1Y
More Airwheel stunts
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YdEHOdCBCmo
Foot Scooter videos
Hovertrax
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vA11YG1WB7A
Chic-smart video from Korea
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MfZpNILDhk8
Links
Lean Machines: Comparison Table of Self-Balancing Dual-Motor Electric Foot Scooters
Clean water
*Advisable in some places only
Clean food
Clean air
Author’s opinion
Advice for Governments on how to achieve cleaner air
Generally speaking in most countries we need more:
The Physical & Mental Health Balance
Taking care is often important for our physical health, but mental health often requires a more carefree outlook. So the art of living well is being careful, caring yet carefree. Having love without attachment. A quote I once read goes, “Take a child by the hand, they will show you the way.” I believe adults are often better at the ‘careful’ and children at the ‘carefree’. Every time you shout to a child, ‘Be careful!’ you can imagine them shouting back at you ‘Be carefree!’ Children often experience negative emotions and then recover swiftly because they’re such complete experts at living in the moment. To stop worrying about the past and future, is one of the great lessons they teach us. Mental slavery is worrying about the past. Discipline is doing the right thing from now on.
By all means use and share the various health tips outlined above, but always remember the value in simply broadening your outlook to see the big picture, the value of letting it be, of not worrying about stuff, and of having faith. Perfectionism is anything but perfect. So don’t sweat the small stuff, just create good habits so that overall you’re going in the right direction.
Let’s step on the gas with wind energy!
The question is how to meet our energy needs in a safe and sustainable way. The answer is blowing in the wind.
(Photo from http://www.govtech.com, text added)
”Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it.
Boldness has genius, power and magic in it!”
W. H. Murray in The Scottish Himalaya Expedition, 1951, paraphrasing Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
This is to promote renewable energy in general rather than just wind turbines. Other renewable energy options have some advantages over wind energy. For example, solar power requires no moving parts so potentially means less maintenance, no threat to birds and no noise. However; wind energy is likely here to stay for now: the energy output of some of the largest wind turbines is colossal, small turbines can conveniently be put up onto roofs or various other places and furthermore new wind turbine designs claim to offer numerous advantages such as less noise, less cost, less threat to birds, use of less space and greater efficiency.
If you want to help reduce global warming you can support Avaaz
Making Green Streets Poster
Link to Quizlet flashcards
Download as a PDF
Making Green Streets (whole file: image + text + extra)
Making Green Streets (image + text)
Making Green Streets gap fill verb+ing + has & have (higher intermediate)
Making Green Streets gap fill verb+ing + has & have (lower intermediate)
Making Green Streets gap fill verb+ing (beginner)
Extra Stuff
For users of the Notability App (includes a short ”video” (audio + linked text) on how to make a decision matrix)
Ideas to help improve life quality for people living along the Danshui river in Taipei.
Shui Yuan Road today: noisy, polluted, and unsafe
ShuiYuan road converted to light rail: quiet, with cleaner air, and much, much safer
ShuiYuan road – experimental moving walkway idea
The Peacemaker Foundation 