MIT SmartBiking Project to Hit Copenhagen Streets by November 2009

MIT’s SENSEable City Laboratory has announced that they will initiate a new biking project in Copenhagen to reduce carbon emissions and increase fitness. The Danish city will be the urban laboratory for MIT’s SmartBiking project starting in November 2009. This start date dovetails with Copenhagen’s duties as host of the United Nations Climate Change Conference.

MIT has developed smart bike technology that will allow easy mobilization, energy conservation and citywide mileage tracking. The SENSEable City Laboratory has created a rear wheel compartment that contains a lithium ion battery, smart tag and other electronic components. This compartment will be tested for durability and efficiency during the Copenhagen project. The goal of the SmartBike’s rear wheel compartment is to add these elements to traditional bicycles throughout the world. MIT wants to make the SmartBike component compatible with mountain and racing bicycles worldwide for easy conversion.  

Fiat EcoDrive Software Presented at Paris Motor Show

Every driver interested in cutting back on fuel consumption, saving their brakes and learning to be a better motorist should be interested in Fiat’s EcoDrive software. This software was announced at the 2008 Paris Motor Show as a product that Fiat will begin to offer on a large scale by the end of this year. The EcoDrive software package is capable of analyzing a driver’s average speed, braking, gear efficiency and fuel use over thousands of miles.

Fiat’s new software requires drivers to purchase a Microsoft Blue & Me system before analyzing driving patterns. The Blue & Me is a versatile onboard unit that allows motorists to focus entirely on the road. This onboard computer provides audio for incoming text messages, access to hands-free cell phone use and compatibility with most MP3 players.

The Blue & Me features a USB port that allows drivers to transfer the EcoDrive software easily. Every motorist can download the software from their computer to a USB drive and upload EcoDrive into the Blue & Me. The software provides driving suggestions and detailed reports on fuel consumption once the USB drive is inserted back into a home computer. Fiat is also developing a social networking component through its website that will help newcomers navigate through EcoDrive reports. While Microsoft intended this unit to improve the daily commute, Fiat hopes that the Blue & Me can help reduce carbon emissions by 15 percent.

Mapping Out Your Daily Commute for a Greener Driving Experience

Most commuters are as comfortable with their daily routes to and from work as they are with their favorite shoes and pajamas. This comfort level comes from the familiar mile markers, billboards and exits that zip by as we head back from a hard day’s work. While you may feel better about taking the same path during your daily commute, this path may not be the best in terms of fuel efficiency.



The lure of the high-speed interstate may be taking you out of your way to get to work. Highways may offer high speed limits for commuters in a rush to get to work but they offer little flexibility during your commute. If you miss your exit because of inconsiderate drivers, you will need to backtrack and waste gas in the process.

One school of thought promoted by the State of Michigan and others says that commuters should take the shortest possible routes to work. These routes reduce the total miles your vehicle travels in a day, which cuts down on gas used each time you sit behind the wheel. The caveat for the shortest route idea is that you also need to consider road conditions. If you are driving on a pockmarked road that cuts your commuting distance in half, you may be putting your vehicle at risk for damage that would negate fuel savings.

Another idea to reduce your gas burden during the daily commute is finding a route with the least amount of stop signs and speed changes. You may be able to find a county highway or local road with a consistent 45 MPH speed limit that allows cruise control in light traffic. By reducing stop and yield signs during your commute, you cut down on wear on your brakes and avoid repetitive acceleration that wastes gas.

There are two ways to map out your fuel-efficient commute without starting up your car. You can use Google Maps and Street View to find a route from your home to work that fulfills the requirements mentioned above. If you are familiar with back roads and county highways in your area, you can take a quick bike ride to determine if the route will work for your needs.

Solving Gas Woes with Creative Approaches to the Daily Commute

The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) reported last week that the average American household could save $9,596 each year by using buses, trains and ride sharing programs for daily commutes. Given these figures, why aren’t more Americans using public transportation? The easy answer is that cities throughout the United States have either cut back on public transit or failed to extend these systems to suburban areas. Every commuter concerned about gas prices should take a closer look at public transit options before dismissing them completely.



The number of express buses, highway flyers and other options available through regional transportation districts may surprise some drivers. It is critical for each commuter to look at updated maps and timetables before eliminating public buses as an option. The APTA website

Ford’s Smart Intersection Shows Power of Public-Private Collaboration

Ford Motor Company has been involved in a public-private coalition called the Crash Avoidance Metric Partnership with General Motors, Toyota and other motor companies along with road commissions over the last 13 years. Ford’s representatives announced the first “smart” intersection in the nation as the initial fruits of this collaboration. This Ford-funded intersection is located near the corporation’s headquarters in Dearborn, Michigan and has produced positive results in terms of reduced traffic incidents.



This intersection uses advanced GPS technology as well as wireless communications to provide drivers with updated traffic information. The intersection’s traffic computer maintains second-by-second maps, signal information and driving patterns that are transmitted into vehicles equipped with Ford’s GPS equipment. This interconnectivity allows a driver to avoid accidents and plan routes ahead of stoplights to avoid congestion.

Ford’s designers were able to transmit several streams of data to participating vehicles to maximize the benefits of the intersection’s GPS technology. A driver passing through the intersection would receive a digital map of a four-way stop as well as information on surrounding intersections and crosswalks. The level of detail offered within this information is mind-blowing especially the lane-specific elements of traffic maps transmitted to passing vehicles.

The major consequence of a “smart” intersection in every American city would be decreased traffic accidents. Drivers who notice erratic lane changes and irresponsible behaviors near stoplights can look ahead to alternate routes. Another consequence of Ford’s “smart” intersection is decreased consumption of fuel due to idling and frequent speed changes.