Intermodality means to share two or more ways of transport to go from point A to point B. Usually intermodality deals with shared transports like train, bus or metro. As it comes to bicycles, the more advanced countries facilitate intermodality by linking bikes and buses, or bikes and trains. The sum bikes and metro is complicated in peak hours such as the ones in which most people go to work or study. The limited space makes it difficult to share the limited surface specially in those more important metro-consuming countries like Japan.

Regarding the sum of bikes and buses, different alternatives are faced with in my opinion no clear winner. On the one hand, there are cities which allow getting in bikes into buses, but only those that are folding. The reason, again, is the lack of sufficient space due to seats and also passengers. This idea can get it off the hook in intensive-use foldable bikes places, although most of them (and probably all of them) do not accomplish this characteristic.

On the other hand, there are the systems which enable to incorporate bikes to the buses chassis. Here, ingenuity is put into play and an external structure is added to mount the bikes. It can be done at the front or behind of buses. On the photo bellow, you can see it at the front in real life.

The number of bikes is limited by their weight and the mechanical tolerance of the incorporated structure. A simple transporter carries one to four bikes which are mounted in a few seconds. As the bus driver continuously sees them, he controls them and the bus times are not substantially affected.

Moreover, when bicycles are put behind the bus, we have two options. The first one constitutes using a more complex alternative compared to what I have showed and can be observed in the next picture.

This assembly can carry more bikes, but it requires extra height and strength that not every people have. Hence, help is needed. The positive point that implies it is the capacity is increased, though the photo only shows four positions. However, the bus driver can not control the bikes unless she get off it or the rider warn her.

And finally there is the preferred option in long bus trips and dozens of bikes: To hitch a trailer. A trailer allows for moving lots of bikes while the space for bikers inside the bus is guaranteed. If using a two-story trailer like in the next photo, bikes must be secured by hooks in order not to go flying in the first corner. Additional actions are recommended to avoid thieves like using chains.

Let’s consider a standard car park, just one of the usually seen in every city. Let’s take into account conventional bikes instead of monster or folding bikes. Sum up inverted U bike racks. And finally, let’s think about putting them perpendicular to the direction a car is parked. As a result of all them, the impressive figure of ten bicycles can be parked in the same surface one car needs to be parked, not considering a two or three floors bike rack, and do considering there is enough space to park and lock each bicycle. If you add a nice, colorful frame, you get this picture:

Riding a bike is considered as environmentally efficient because energy is produced by the pedals movement. If an electric bicycle is used, then part of it is provided by a normally external battery in order to reduce the effort that cyclists make. Going a step further, the solar bikes highlight since the solar light propels them. But how can I build a solar bike?

There are several ways of doing it. For instance, the solar bike based on a bicycle trailer. Here you need:

• The proper trailer

• At least one solar panel

• One external battery

• One electrical transformer

• Wires

• Of course, a bike

• Gadgets

In a few words, the electrical installation starts with the solar panel which collects energy from the sun and a wire brings it to the battery. The battery stocks up the energy. Next, energy from the battery goes through another wire to the electrical transformer. The electrical transformer allows to use it. At the exit of this gadget the third wire allows electricity to reach the gadgets we want. It is advisable to secure all the elements with bridles or a horizontal surface like the picture. Also, take into account the extra weight of the whole installation.

By the way, if want to know what is the Zima project, check this web: https://www.zimaproject.org/en/home/