Survey folding bikes

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03-17-2009, 03:44 PM
Rien Schuurhuis

Survey folding bikes

For my final thesis at the University of Canberra (Australia) in combination with the Delft University of Technology (the Netherlands) I am executing a research on foldable bicycles used for commuting. For this purpose I made a survey with a few questions concerning foldable bicycles. It would be of great help if you could help me by filling in the survey. For the survey it doesn’t matter whether you possess a foldable bicycle or not.
http://www.thesistools.com/?qid=73617&ln=eng

Thanks in advance!
Rien Schuurhuis
03-17-2009, 05:14 PM
Biciclista

sure. Would you let us know the results?
03-17-2009, 11:49 PM
papaver

Bij deze. :)

Folding bikes are extremely popular where I live. It's a real hype.
03-18-2009, 03:21 PM
tulip

I did the survey. I have a folding bike but I don't use it for commuting because I work from home. I use it for fitness rides, club rides, touring, and traveling with my bike. It's a great bike and if I had to commute to work again, I would definitely commute on a folding bike because they ride like regular bikes (mine does, anyways) and they are easily stowed.
03-18-2009, 03:42 PM
Aint Doody

+ me
03-18-2009, 06:56 PM
madscot13

what size wheel do you guys have?
03-18-2009, 06:58 PM
malkin

Me too.
I rarely see them here. I'm curious to test ride.
03-19-2009, 04:54 AM
tulip

Quote:

Originally Posted by madscot13

what size wheel do you guys have?

20" wheels. Bike Friday Pocket Rocket Pro. I'd consider a Tikit (16" wheels) if I commuted to work by bike/public transportation. But I don't so no Tikit for me.
03-20-2009, 12:17 PM
shootingstar

I understand in certain areas of Europe, folding bikes might be more popular simply because the homes tend to be smaller (for storage space/lack of garage) and the older multistoried residential buildings don't have elevators to transport a bike up and down.
03-21-2009, 11:38 PM
papaver

Quote:

Originally Posted by shootingstar

I understand in certain areas of Europe, folding bikes might be more popular simply because the homes tend to be smaller (for storage space/lack of garage) and the older multistoried residential buildings don't have elevators to transport a bike up and down.

:D That could be a good reason, but the real reason is much simpeler than that. In countries like Belgium and Holland lots of bikes get stolen. Especially when they are parked in a public place like the railwaystation. People are fed up by that. So that's why they invest in a folding bike so they don't have to comprimise on safety. Otherwise they use a really rundown bike to go to the station, but that's not even an guarantee that your bike doesn't get stolen.
03-23-2009, 02:27 PM
NbyNW

Filled it out . . . good luck with your research and please share your results when you have all your data!

Have been seeing more folders in Seattle this past year, I think because REI has started to carry Dahons and Bike Friday is also not far away. I think the multi-modal/inside storage/don't need a car rack appeals to a lot of people.

Saw LOTS of folders, all different brands, when I was in the resort area (Kenting) in the south of Taiwan. It was probably one of the most attractive road cycling areas on the island, plus I could imagine it's pretty easy for people to put a folder in their car / on the bus / on the train, vs a regular bike. 20" wheel size seemed to be popular, which is also what I have.