Many businesses, educational institutions and cities have implemented programs to encourage and reward people who bicycle commute. While the advantages of bicycle commuting are well known these programs are often complicated and cumbersome; involving voluntary submission of data from commuters. This causes low participation rates and incomplete or inaccurate data.
Motive would be a combination bike computer and online community. The bike computer would record data directly from the commuters bike such as speed, distance, and elevation changes. Then, utilizing current cellular infrastructure, the data would be transmitted to a central server where it is added to the database.
Commuters could then log on to the Motive website and view their stats, such as a running total of gas saved, calories burned, or whatever data the commuter wanted to see. This running total would show each commuter their personal progress, encouraging them to continue bike commuting. Also accessible through the website would be an online community with monthly challenges sponsored by local business or organizations. Commuters would also be able to challenge friends and compare statistics.
Employers and city administrators would receive extremely accurate and detailed data sets about bicycle commuting. This would result in more efficient decision making about where to place bike lanes and what incentive programs generate the best response. The databases would be linked online, allowing for friendly company versus company or even city versus city competitions.
The physical computer would be purchased by companies or institutions and distributed to employees providing an easy to organize structure. Each screen is a button providing easy to use navigation through various readouts. If a commuter moves or leaves a company, the computer is returned and used by the next commuter, extending the products life-cycle.
The housing and electrical components of the computer would be made using the most sustainable methods and recyclable materials. The e-ink display and wireless functionality allow for software upgrades which ensures forward compatibility and adaptability to the system.