Flinstones car victory in court
Link (Thanks, Dan!)It has no floor. No engine. No transmission. No signal lights. And as mentioned, tea lights sit in place of light bulbs at the front.
"What would happen," [prosecutor Daniel] Lerner charged with pointed conviction, "if a lit candle hit another car?"
As the small courtroom in Old City Hall erupted in giggles, Lerner withdrew his question.
...
On the stand, the Crown asked Walsh about the brakes, which are traditional bike hand brakes. The left cyclers control the left side; ditto for the pair on the right. And what would happen if the left side happened to brake before the right, Lerner asked Walsh. "It would cause friction on the road, causing that side to anchor (and the other) side to pivot around," the officer answered. This, Walsh continued, could possibly send the car swerving into oncoming traffic. Fox was quick to point out the car stopped without difficulty when asked to pull over. He also argued that rickshaws – another muscle-propelled vehicle on Toronto streets – have no brakes at all and those drivers aren't targeted.
Previously on Boing Boing:
• Pedal-powered car gets pulled over by Toronto Police
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Great, funny story. Woulda been nice if you'd explained in the summary what made this a victory for the 'stones, Mark.
Yes, but could they be pulled over for having a drink to celebrate while rounding the block?
I got to take this thing for a drive after the court case (thanks guys). It is remarkably well built: All four people can pedal at different speeds, you can shift gears, and it uses the original drum brakes so you can actually skid the tires. If only one brake were engaged then the car's direction remains the same as the two front wheels provide more traction a single rear wheel.
Their lawyer, Terry Fox, said he made his argument about the safety as the section of the HTA the driver was charged under was for all vehicles not motor vehicles.
It's surprisingly light and easy to maneuver. I'm sure it would hurt if it ran over you, but not nearly as badly as a real car as it weighs very little, it's very safe.
The only issue with it is that it blocks traffic, but that's fine for a few reasons: One of the reasons it was made was to demonstrate that bicycles are in fact entitled to a whole lane if they feel they need it. Anyone stuck behind it was more amused then anything, it's not much of an annoyance due to its novelty. When it was driven, it was rush hour, so it was keeping up with traffic just fine, and on side streets you can just pull over to let people pass. It's not like this gets driven around much either.
Okay, next would someone please make a grown-up sized Big Wheel? I was deprived of both pedal cars and big wheels as a child because I was Baby Huey (a very large child, in other words). I feel I need to make up for lost time...
http://bigwheelrally.com/store/adult.htm
and/or
http://www.uncrate.com/men/gear/toys/adult-big-wheel/
It fills me with rage that these attention-whore "artists" weren't convicted for this. Were I stuck behind this thing on Queen st. (during rush hour!) I doubt the supposed novelty would amuse me, nor would it mitigate my feelings of annoyance.
Rush hour downtown is already bad enough without a bunch of clowns screwing around on the road.
I find it hard to believe that peddling, however well engineered, can generate enough power to move a car of that mass. unless it only travels downhill!
#7-
So...you're calling "Shopped?" :-\
Most of the mass of a car is in the engine and assorted paraphernalia. Take that out, and replace the heavy interior seating with lightweight bicycle seats, and it probably weighs less than the people sitting in it.
"What would happen," Lerner charged with pointed conviction, "if a lit candle hit another car?"
Great... thanks for giving the terrorists such a potent idea, Mr. Lerner. They'll be dripping wax and leaving smoke smudges on our cars everywhere! Now excuse me while I go report my church's candle-bearers to the FBI.
a car,motorcycle, bicycle, truck - even a skate board or roller blades has ONE operator.
Who is legally liable in the case of this pedal-car?
The steersman?, the brake-men?,the power-men? All of them?
Hate to break it to you, but multi-person bicycles are not new.
forgot them damned tandems. But still, a tandem accident would have the person in front liable, I would think. If multi-passenger pedal cars become popular (next week when oil hits $500bbl), this is going to be an issue. Should the person steering be the one?
@Lansell: "It fills me with rage..."
Slow down dude - it'll still be there when you get there. This attitude is why driving in traffic sucks. In case you forgot, it's not all about you.
Through this whole story have you noticed that the police are kind of on these folks side? I think they genuinely want to help out.
@Lansell:
What on earth are you doing trying to drive a car on Queen street at rush hour? I have fond memories of walking west on Queen street, and passing three streetcars in the ten blocks I went, the traffic was so slow.
Rush hour would be much less extreme if people like you parked outside the city and took public transit, or, god forbid, a bicycle.