NÓMADA
Description
Nómada is a mobile bike-sharing station that helps to grow, expand and promote cycling culture, in a city with little or no bicycle infrastructure and culture. The entire system works via an App.What is the Topic?
In a fast-paced society like the one we live in, mobility plays a very important role. From traffic jams, a lack of infrastructure or crowded streets with cars to poor public transport, mobility problems exist not only in developing countries and cities like Guatemala City, but also in industrialized countries and cities around the world. Where thousands of people want to get from A to B every day, intelligent inner-city transport systems are needed. The bicycle is not only the cheapest means of travel, for most shorter distances, it is in the city also the fastest. And it's environmentally friendly anyway. But how do you establish and promote the bicycle as an alternative means of transportation in cities like Guatemala City, with little bicycle infrastructure and in a society without bicycle culture? This is where a mobile bike-sharing station like Nómada comes into play.
Why does it look like this?
Besides the App, Nómada consists of two main elements, the station itself and the bicycles. With its 4.40mx 2m, the entire station is about the size of a car and can transport and park up to twelve bicycles. Size is one of the most important aspects so that the station fits perfectly into a street parking lot. The platform has a non-slip surface and a Girip-Tape area with the numbering of the docks / bicycles to make it easier for the user to enter the platform while docking or undocking a bicycle and to identify the platform and the dock number. In addition to being mobile, the shape of the station has two main functions. The first one is to create a separation or barrier between the user and the road for safety reasons. This barrier should also act as a Self-advertising surface because it is perfectly visible from a passing car. The second main function of the form is to give users easy access to the bikes from the sidewalk side.
What is special?
The special thing about Nómada is its versatility and mobility, which makes it possible to be towed by any vehicle, regardless of the requirements of the city. Nómada can be easily moved around a city at any time. The idea of a mobile bike sharing station is to strengthen the bike community, the bike culture and the infrastructure in the city. At the same time, being able to expand and grow within and with the city as well as arousing the residents' interest in alternative means of transport. Its size is one of the most important aspects allowing the station to fit perfectly into a street parking lot. This way, street parking spaces intended for conventional cars can be reclaimed for alternative means of transport.
What is new?
Currently there are two main bike-sharing concepts. The first one consists of a station also known as “dock”, where bicycles can be rented and secured. These stations are fixed and can be found in different parts of the city. The second concept consists of bicycles that do not need a station and are located anywhere in the city, also known as “dockless” bicycles, generally occupying pedestrian space and creating disorder in public spaces. Nómada, on the other hand, proposes a new concept consisting of a mobile station, which allows the improvement of several aspects. The first one is to keep order in public spaces. The second is, having the ability to grow with the city. If the city requires a new bicycle station, a new Nómada station can be moved without any problem to a specific place. Another aspect is that Nómada allows to increase or decrease the number of bicycles in a specific place, just by adding more stations. If the demand for more bicycles grows in a specific place, relocating a station, solves the problem. By being so versatile, it also solves the problem of having to build permanent infrastructure.