COCD Proposal Community Yellow Scooter Project
11-09-2001
Jared Benedict, John Fabel, Adam Shapiro
http://bike.hampshire.edu/development

As part of the Hampshire Sustainable Campus Plan, Jared’s Division III, and the Hampshire Community Bike Program, we are developing an advanced Community Scooter Program.

The objective of the project is to provide an alternative and reliable mode of transportation which lessens the reliance of automobiles around campus. This project is being developed as a model which can be implemented in similar communities such as other colleges, corporate campuses, or urban settings.

The program would provide the following benefits to the community:

  • Allow Hampshire to move automobiles to the periphery of the campus.
  • Make the Hampshire campus feel more compact and more “community-like”.
  • Represent Hampshire’s philosophy of sustainability.
  • Promote clean and healthy transportation.
  • Provide a viable transportation alternative that the community can rely on.

How the System Works

1. Each member of the Hampshire community is issued a Hampshire ID card. The card has a magnetic strip which contains a unique identification number.

2. A user goes to one of the scooter racks around campus, swipes their Hampshire ID card.

3. The user is authenticated, a scooter is unlocked from the rack, a screen displays that the user must return the scooter to any one of the racks around campus in a certain amount of time. The user, scooter number, and time are recorded into a database.

4. When the user arrives at their destination, they simply return the scooter to an available lock at any rack around campus. The locking rack identifies the returned scooter and makes the appropriate update in the database.

If the scooter isn’t returned in time, at all, or if it is found to be damaged due to misuse, the user will be fined and/or contacted. Their privilege to use the system could be revoked.

Our Initial Needs

We have already identified the major technologies we intend to use for our system. Our next step is to begin a more detailed design and implement a prototype. To do so, we need some start up funds to purchase equipment. Once a prototype has been designed, we intend to apply for larger grant funding in order to actually implement the program.

Bicycle rack

  • locking mechanism 200
  • Electric strike
  • identification equipment 700
    • transmitters
    • scanner
    • antennas
  • location confirmation equipment 200
    • induction sensors
    • reed switches
  • computer Node equipment 200
    • low-end computer
    • card reader
    • display
  • equipment to interface
  • materials 200

Vehicle construction scooter/bicycle

  • Off the shelf equipment 300
  • materials 200
  • CAD software 200

Computer Equipment for authentication 300

  • Centralized server
  • Software

TOTAL $2500.00

Team

Adam Shapiro
Founder Hampshire Yellow Bike program.
Three years experience running the program.
Very in touch with issues around community transportation
Studying sustainability

Jared Benedict
Strong background in implementing appropriate technology in communities
Studying sustainability, information technology, and design.

John Fabel
Expert on issues of Sustainability
Leader of Hampshire Sustainable Campus Plan
Strong background in design and entrepreneurship