The Association of Dairy Farmers of Canada now have 2 CoBies that they are touring Canada with to promote healthy living, and specifically maintaining a healthy weight. Gilles Deschenes, director of the program writes: We used two Conference Bikes in 2006 to promote our Nutrition messages for dairy products here in Canada. Dairy Farmers of Canada promotes dairy products generically, like the “Got Milk” promotion does in the U.S. so these 7 seater bikes were perfect for us to attract media and consumer attention across 8 of the major cities across Canada during a month tour. They are very well built and easy to maneuver for 1 person, while the others assist by pedaling. We arranged the middle basket where people put their hands to hold on, with a plastic liner so that we could put ice and dairy products like milk, chocolate milk and yogurt for the consumers to enjoy while doing a little exercise. We were present at many events and we got media coverage in many markets. Overall a great campaign, using a great unique bicycle as an attention grabber to promote physical fitness and healthy eating habits.
“Imagine one person facing forward and then the other six people around a circle. The way the bike is constructed, everyone can actually pedal at the same time — all contributing to propel the bike forward. But since they’re facing each other, they can chat with each other, they can share ideas, they can even have a team meeting if they’d like.”
– Brendon Harrington, Google
Alternative energy advocate Meg O’Shaughnessy was wintering in San Francisco when she had her first CoBi ride. “This is more fun than the proverbial barrel of monkeys!! I need to have one of these for my town.” At Colorado Rocky Mountain School the main reason for using the bike is to generate enthusiasm for alternative modes of transportation and capture people’s imaginations about the overall advantage and enjoyment of riding bikes. It is also a great tool for reminding other roadway users to “Share the Road,” lighten up, and enjoy the journey. CRMS Students pedal around on the Combined Energy Vehicle (as the CoBi has been renamed) as part of sports training. On the CRMS campus, the C.E.V. has sparked great enthusiasm from the students and community. Outdoor Program Director Darryl Fuller writes, “The students love it. They are fascinated and excited whenever they get a chance to ride on it.” Any CRMS group with an authorized adult driver can reserve and use the bike. When the bike is ridden to town, people are also just as fascinated, Fuller comments. “Cars stop in the middle of the road to gawk or ask questions. Almost everyone smiles. I haven’t yet noticed any annoyance or impatience from cars that are invariably held up by its slow progress (something you often can’t say when riding a regular two-wheeled bicycle).” The bike now belongs to CRMS on a full-time basis with the guidelines that O’Shaughnessy can borrow it for her sustainability events. As part of this donation, CRMS is also discussing how they are going to use the bike in town events, such as Bonedale Bike Week, and for general town-related bicycle advocacy.
“In a busy summer Cosybike set a distance record of 109 miles in 14 hours on a CoBi. Can you beat that? And entertained at the Tour de Prestigne electric bike festival, the Glasgow Skyride and numerous birthday parties and charity gigs. No event is too big or too small for Cosybike! Wheeeee! Come to Glasgow to meet Cosybike and Iain. Visitors Book a tour! If you own a ConferenceBike swing by, send an email, say hello, and an impromptu tour of the city may occur. Food and Beer is highly likely to be involved too.”
– Ian Urquhart, Spokesman! Cosybike, Scotland, www.cosybike.co.uk
“The ConferenceBike is a blast. After the first season of renting and giving rides on my ConferenceBike, I feel very fortunate to have stumbled upon this awesome invention. My company Septacycles.com rentsConferenceBikes in Fort Collins, Colorado for parties, parades, and tours. We rode theConferenceBike in the world largest bike parade, the New Belgium Brewery’s Tour De Fat. My favorite thing has been seeing families, friends, co-workers, and strangers all enjoying the ConferenceBike experience. There aren’t that many activities that everyone will enjoy but the ConferenceBike never fails to get everyone laughing, smiling, and having fun.”
‘The ConferenceBike has become an important part of our bike-try-out roadshows, and we have found that it has generated a good income in its own right too. It gives all our work a carnival atmosphere. Buying a Conference Bike was one of the best decisions we ever made.’
“Here in Belgium, we have an organisation called UNIZO (Unie van Zelfstandigen) for self-employed people and small companies. Every year, they organise a competition for the most creative entrepreneur of the year. Guess what, we participated with our CoBi and won the first prize! The jury said we were selected unanimously!”
“In addition to the obvious benefit of exercise, the CoBi allows our students to be active participants in an activity in which they would usually be passively involved if at all – riding a bike.
It empowers the person who is deaf-blind to participate in an activity where teamwork is needed. It promotes socialization and accessibility to communication which would otherwise be unavailable during a ride on a bike.
And last, but certainly not least, the Bike fosters interest. In addition to our regular traning program, twice a year we hold a two-week seminar for senior citizens who are deaf-blind. One of their favorite activities is riding the ConferenceBike after a hard day of training. The best line I heard was from an 87 year old woman who was here for two weeks for our Senior program. She said: “I haven’t ridden a bike in over 60 yeard, and I never thought I would have that experience again! Than you so much for giving me back something that I used to enjoy so much.”
– Allision Burrows, Community Education Department, Helen Keller National Center, Sands Point, NY.
“I’m convinced that this bike will help to rejuvenate bland and lifeless American downtowns at night and during the day. I can zip around downtown Minneapolis and St. Paul almost as well as a -perhaps not as fast, but it’s certainly more fun. Plus it’s fun to meet different people. Now I know what was meant when you said that the experience removes inhibitions among riders. Everyone talks to each other and everyone, regardless of ethnicity, economic level, whatever, is in the same place trying to achieve the same objective in going forward. What fun!!”
Paul Selke, Minneapolis
“Of course the ConferenceBike is novel and people are amused and curious even at first glance. That novelty is enhanced when the riders begin to pedal as they realize it’s really true, this curious device actually takes off under their own power. But that is not all there is to it. I have piloted the CoBi many times. The core of the CoBi and what makes it an important work of art is the unique social environment it creates owing to Eric Staller’s creative insight. The result is a resonating experience that delights me again and again.”
– Lauren Lauren J. Lieberman Ph.D. Director of Camp Abilities
– Paul Newland, Outreach Director, Stony Brook University
Mount Kisco, New York Fairfax, Virginia. Photo by: Ben Howard, Bigbigevents.com
Cadets. Charleston, South Carolina
Margate, New Jersey
Picnic; Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Firefighters; Dallas, Texas
Santas, Minneapolis, Minnesota
“That’s the coolest thing I’ve ever seen.” Jimmy Carter