A design team based in Copenhagen has come up with what it says is an entirely new category of human-powered vehicles: a step machine on wheels.
Called the Me-Mover, this three-wheeled, compact machine is propelled by standing and stepping in an easy natural manner that accommodates various paces, from walking to jogging or even biking speeds.
After five years of producing the Me-Mover in Denmark, the company behind it launched a Kickstarter campaign to bring their idea to the rest of the world.
The makers claim the Me-Mover is suitable for all kinds of purposes. For sporty types, walkers can use it for the same health effects while going farther, whereas runners have the same advantages as jogging with enhanced core training and without the impact.
For cyclists, they claim it offers better ergonomics and posture, while skiers can keep fit on it all year round while carving their turns.
It’s also designed for dense city living, as it folds down to a small 43 by 13 centimetres, which makes it perfect for cruising around small streets, whether slowly as you shop or quickly as you race to work. It can also be maintained at a bike shop.
It’s also very simple to upgrade: as it’s a modular system, all owners need to do to get the latest additions and improvements is buy the new components they want.
Within three days of the Kickstarter campaign starting, they sold their entire first run of 50 vehicles and made their 100.000 US dollar goal the following morning.
"There wasn't even time to buy champagne," said inventor Jonas Eliasson. "Our first Me-Movers took five years to build and four days to sell out." Now they are producing custom parts for the vehicles.
"Ever since the launch, buyers are so excited they're offering their own add-ons, designed on their kitchen tables," Eliasson continued. "And you know what? We're going to produce some of them."
The first will be a carrying strap, set to be included when Me-Movers roll off the assembly line in August. "This is what we're all about," said Eliasson. "Making active motion so easy and intuitive that people start finding their own ways to use it and improve it."