Entrepreneurial Stevens Students Design Bicycle Sharing System
Summary
Based on the model of a popular car-sharing program, cyclists rent a bicycle from any location for a period of time and then return them to a rack for other SmartPedals subscribers to use.The team of Ellyn Griggs, Angela Parriott, and Laura Jean Sneider developed SmartPedals, a cost-effective bicycle sharing system that eases the hassle of a commute and is good for the environment.The teams advisor was Dr. Constantin Chassapis, Mechanical Engineering Department Director and deputy Dean of the Charles V. Schaefer, Jr. School of Engineering & Science.In a typical urban environment, individuals can spend up to 56 hours per year stuck in traffic.Based on the model of a popular car-sharing program, cyclists rent a bicycle from any location for a period of time and then return them to a rack for other SmartPedals subscribers to use.By reducing the cost of bicycle sharing technology, SmartPedals offers a viable solution for small municipalities and college campuses.The team designed and fabricated all components for the project – locks, kiosk, and data system.in Mechanical Engineering and a Masters of Science in Computer Science.For Ellyn, the project represents the culmination of four years hard work, coming together in a physical product that addresses real-world issues.