VIDEO: Pedal-powered Buick displeases Canadian cops
Michel de Broin, a Montreal artist, has created perhaps one of the most environmentally friendly automobiles ever. In 2005, he took a 1986 Buick Regal, gutted it, and replaced its running gear with pedals, calling it the "Shared Propulsion Car." In an early video of the passenger-powered car, it navigates New York traffic with a few impatient drivers, but no big problems. The Buick, with its super-slow acceleration, is stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic just like everyone else. We assume the passengers arrive at their destination safely, if not tired and perhaps in better shape. Broin describes the car on his Web site:"In this project, all superfluous devices were removed from an 86' Buick Regal – the engine, suspension, transmission and electrical system – thereby reducing the weight of the vehicle whilst preserving its appearance. It was then equipped with 4 independent pedal and gear mechanisms that make it possible for passengers to form the self-propulsion group. A cutting edge transmission technology was developed to transmit the power supplied by the passengers to the drive wheels and to vary the reduction ratios between cyclists and wheels, so as to ensure their progressive coupling for start-ups. With a top speed of around 15 km/h, the vehicle's resistance to the culture of performance is raised to an unprecedented level.
However, in December of 2007, Broin took the car back to Canada, where it didn't exactly make fans with the Toronto police. It's hard to make out exactly why the Canadian cops weren't happy with the Buick, but apparently it has something to do with safety. Watch the video and see for yourself.
[Source: micheldebroin.org via blogto.com]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
JJ 5:16PM (2/02/2008)
Well it doesnt seem the safest of biking methods.
I mean really if thats the case, just get a bike and call it a day.
No sense in holding up traffic and potentially causing injury to have pedal powered shell of a car.
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ALEXDB9 5:19PM (2/02/2008)
HAHA. Worst idea ever, if any one thinks Americans would buy that, they are nuts. I will stick with my V12.
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MajorGeek 5:19PM (2/02/2008)
Just curious, why not use a smaller, lighter car, any old Nissan, Volkswagon, etc?
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zmf001 10:38AM (2/03/2008)
It was an art project, not meant to be useful. They were probably trying to give an example of how to take an old GM POS and make it "green." The part that sucks is, they removed the seats. At least the old seat were more comfortable, no good for pedaling though.
Carlos 5:22PM (2/02/2008)
Thats retarded, they're not going over 10 mph? Who's going to hit them? I guess the cops there have nothing better to do.
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ALEXDB9 5:30PM (2/02/2008)
Exactly what I was thinking......at least the one in Borat was powered by a horse.....this is just dumb.
Can you imagine going to pick up a chick in this? Yeah get on the passengers side and help me peddle....wow.
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Seminole 5:37PM (2/02/2008)
Carlos,
It looks like they are going down a two lane road, one lane in each direction. Going 10mph on what could be a 35 or 40mph road isn't safe. Even if they don't get hit, they could end up causing an accident.
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YouFaceTheTick 5:52PM (2/02/2008)
That's hilarious.
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Quattrofan 5:56PM (2/02/2008)
You gotta work on your comprehension ability or at the very least start reading the articles.
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vdk 6:05PM (2/02/2008)
dude... relax... please... it was just a joke dude... jeeze
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vdk 6:06PM (2/02/2008)
10mph in downtown Toronto is more than enough buddy.
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mctwist16 6:18PM (2/02/2008)
finally someone who knows what they're talking about, lol.
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Quattrofan 6:22PM (2/02/2008)
That was addressed to first commenter.
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ALEXDB9 6:32PM (2/02/2008)
I understood what the article was about. I just found it funny and could not imagine the reaction that it would get here in the States if it were to be sold as the new "thing" in saving gas and the environment.
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John 6:45PM (2/02/2008)
Personally, I would not buy this model but they may have re-invented the car. With a carbon bodied four seater, they could go maybe 30 kph. That would be ok for town driving as the limits are only 25 mph and the 18 mph the car would go would keep the traffic courts empty enought that the legislature would tax them, too. So the true blue tax and spend politicians would have to come to the aid of their country cousins!?. Does anyone you know ride a bike? Or maybe a pick-up? This would not win the Tour-de-France and won't be on any construction job but as a people mover, it has potential. Remember Edison! He found out that there are over 10,000 ways not to build a light bulb, too.
He could have been a dummy and done nothing but he took the time to do this. He has my vote for ingenuity. Semper Fi.
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vdk 7:01PM (2/02/2008)
Yeah... replies don't work anymore.. hmm..
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Talisman 7:06PM (2/02/2008)
apparently you have to click on the time stamp of the person you are replying to and then post your message. You would think Autoblog would have noted this on the front page or something so we would know? Maybe its not supposed to be like this or something.
John 7:13PM (2/02/2008)
An interesting idea.
But I have to agree with others and say its a dangerous road hazard. What if it needs to move quickly out of the way for an emergency vehicle? I think a lot of states alllow low speed vehicles, like electric golf carts, to share the road but they have to be capable of 25MPH.
A regular old bike is better.
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Mr. Blake 7:20PM (2/02/2008)
"Well I don't disagree with the principle of it, but the safety factor is..............................unsafe."
HAHAHAHAHA, LOL, ROFL
"...thereby reducing the weight of the vehicle whilst preserving its appearance." It's an '86 Regal, there's no appearance to preserve.
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John 7:23PM (2/02/2008)
Not all Regals suck. The Grand National from the same year still looks cool. Sleeper muscle car.