Flying Through Traffic

The Streetflyer is a Bike That Simulates the Feeling of Flying

by Yuka Yoneda, 02/28/11

Who hasn’t fantasized about being able to fly above the clouds? While human beings have come up with ways to mimic the feeling, here’s an option for those of us who are, frankly, a little too wussy to try out base jumping or hang-gliding right off the bat. Created by Dr. Carsten Mehring, the Streetflyer is a human-powered, light-weight carbon-fiber vehicle that allows you to get a running start and then simply put your legs up to get you into a horizontal hang-gliding position using a body-harness. You won’t be more than 3 feet above the ground, but you can imagine how freeing it will feel to “soar” through the streets in the Superman position (though you may not look as cool as you feel). The concept vehicle could also be used for rehabilitation purposes since it allows the user to be in a suspended vertical position while propelling themselves forward with no impact to their limbs.

Read more: The Streetflyer is a Bike That Makes You Feel Like You're Flying | Inhabitat - Green Design Will Save the World