because it is the only rapid transit system that uses human power as its primary fuel. Its innovation is using the bicycle (the most inexpensive and efficient vehicle we have) and the aerodynamic system that makes cycling easier. Each direction of travel in Velo-city has a separate bikeway tube with three lanes of traffic for slow, medium and fast travel. The separation of direction reduces wind resistance and creates a natural tailwind for cyclists, increasing the efficiency of cycling by about 90 percent and allowing for speeds of up to 50 kilometres per hour. In fact, the more people that use the system, the more efficient it becomes. Not only does Velo-city make it easier to cycle long-distances it provides shelter. One of the challenges of cycling is convincing people to brave inclement weather. In our modern cities we drive to work and drive to workout. Velo-city is like a long gymnasium between destinations; it encourages people to workout on the way to work. This saves time, energy and money. Because Velo-city is elevated, it does not require any additional real estate as it can be located in existing highways, power and railway corridors. Velo-city, is a unique form of rapid transit because it is active rather than passive. Velo-city promotes exercise as an urban lifestyle and increases our social sphere. All other modern modes of transit are passive - they take users for a ride. Users of Velo-city understand the value of distance and its relationship to the environment because they put their own energy into their mobility. The value of this mobility is expressed in individual freedom of choice and movement. Velo-city offers an alternative: a new model of infrastructure that acts in support of other modes of transit. The bikeways are connected to the subway, railway, highway and parking lots, thereby offering more commuting choices. The tenacious bicycle has been around for over 100 years and last year bicycles outsold automobiles in worldwide. Velo-city simply gives bicycles the same level of dedicated infrastructure that other modes of transportation enjoy -- and doing so might just change the world.

Describe the current stage of your initiative and your implementation plan over the next three years

Velo-city is in the early stage of its development. In its present state it is an idea that has been designed, described and visualized. Some “back-of-napkin” calculations have looked at the physics, structure and costs of the project but need further development. The project is an open source design initiative so much of the energy in the first years will be devoted to building a social network for codesigners. Should Velo-city be selected the prize monies would be used to build a development team, develop and refine the technology, develop a prototype, and put together marketing material to promote the idea. The cost of the tasks listed in the implantation plan below exceeds the prize monies so the implantation includes solicitation of further funding.

A three year implementation plan follows:

Year one:
Design: Bring structural, fluid and systems engineers into an open source design team to further refine, test, and cost the design.
Planning: Choose demonstration site, develop a detailed design plan for implementation in a specific urban area.
Marketing: Expand website to include promotional video, FAQ’s, and social networking compontents.
Fundraising: Develop a detailed business plan with proforma, ridership projections and economic analysis.

Year two:
Design: Refine design and build a scaled working model for wind tunnel testing.
Planning: Present demonstration site to government agencies and stakeholder groups.
Marketing: Develop a promotional brochure and video to use for presentations.
Fundraising: Approach investors, agencies, for development grants.

Year three:
Design: Finalize detailed design, build a full scale prototype if funding is available.
Planning: Work with interest groups to lobby government agencies and stakeholders.
Marketing: Develop a direct marketing campaign to government agencies and stakeholders. Present the project at industry tradeshows and conferences.

Describe how your strategy meets the entry criteria ("What We're Looking For")

Velo-city has significant potential to solve humanity's most pressing problems. If implemented Velo-city would significantly reduce air-pollution, obesity, ground-water pollution, global warming, noise pollution, traffic accidents and respiratory diseases. Once implemented, maintenance costs are minimal as the vehicles of the system are maintained by private citizens. Bicycles are inexpensive so Velo-city is universally affordable. If implemented it would essentially change the culture of our cities to be more healthy and sustainable. Most importantly it humanizes our mobility by making our highways a space of socialization.

Velo-city uses no additional land area in our cities as it is located above existing transportation corridors. Velo-city opens the opportunity to connect modes of transportation that have been poorly planned. The bikeway network includes a bike-sharing system that can be used to borrow bicycles to change from one mode to anther. For example a user can be dropped off at a Velo-city entrance, borrow a yellow bike, ride to a subway station and take the subway to work. Velo-city is a parallel mobility system that diversifies our existing modes of transportation.

Describe the qualifications and experience of you and/or your team and your ability to execute your implementation plan

Chris Hardwicke is the creator and lead designer of the Velo-city concept. He is supported by an open source design team of volunteers organized through the velo-city.ca website.

Chris Hardwicke combines his background in fine art, environmental studies and architecture to manage complex urban design and infrastructure projects such as the City of Toronto Port Lands' implementation strategy and the master plan for Kaohsiung Harbor in Taiwan.

Chris' extends his design experience to include research and writing with a focus on active mobility, sustainable community design and place making. As curator of Walk 21, a Design Exchange exhibition, Chris surveyed infrastructure projects across Canada to encourage walking and active mobility as integral place-making strategies. Chris is engaged with his community as an active member of the Toronto Cycling Committee, the Zerofootprint sustainabilty taskforce and an adjunct professor at the University of Toronto.

The Velo-city project has attracted a lot of attention and has been published, presented and exhibited around the world in over 20 newspapers, 10 magazines, 3 books, and 5 conferences. Writing about the Velo-city project Joseph Simpson of the Movement Design Bureau said:

“Such talk could open the way for those designing cities and vehicles to think afresh - and to think it out loud. Canadian designer Chris Hardwicke is just such an example.”