The New York City’s Taxi and Limousine Commission have been running a competition called “Taxis for Tomorrow. Inventor Steven M. Johnson saw the ideas as somewhat dull, so he has come up with a few of his own new, wacky and inventive ideas to shake up the age old transport service and make it more socially and environmentally sustainable.
For super short trips in a congested city where cars tend to idle more then they move, a Smartcar taxi seems very sensible.
As the picture shows, this future taxi design is more like a customised bus service – perhaps even a party bus by the looks of it – where people contribute what they can afford for the journey. It also appears to have a clothing donation compartment. How nice.
This concept wouldn’t fly as it looks really dangerous. But it’s a imaginative and original idea.
To see more kooky and as Steven M. Johnson describes “irresponsible” future taxi designs, visit: Patent Depending.
(Spotted in the New York Times)
Katherine Hui is currently the Social site editor at Green Thing, a web-based public service in London that inspires people to lead greener lives through creative content.
Before this, she worked as the Development Manager at Social Innovation Camp, an organization that encourages people to use web and mobile-based technology to mobilise social change. She oversaw 300 ideas submission and helped build 20 prototypes – five of which have gone on to get further funding or investment.
Katherine’s came over to the UK form Canada in 2007 for an MSc program at the London School of Economics. Before arriving in London, she managed a small environmental start-up in Vancouver called the Canadian Climate Change Alliance.
Katherine is football mad. She is a loyal supporter of Arsenal FC, plays for Islington Borough Ladies FC and coaches for Gunners in Islington in her spare time. Her second favourite hobby is kite surfing and she can sometimes be found chasing the wind.
