Riding a velomobile is truly special, and does not easily compare with any other mode of human power transportation. However, it shares the same benefits and values with other means of cycling.
Millions of cyclists and tons of studies have confirmed that cycling to work, for recreation and exercise, for touring and traveling as well as for those everyday trips around home is healthy and fun, a rewarding exercise and an effective diet.
At the same time, cycling is emission free – an easy entry into helping the environment and controlling climate change.
Cycling is known to be a key contributor to liveable cities, reducing the congestion of the urban environment with pollution and noise. Biking across cities puts riders in direct touch with their environment and its social and safety issues. Read more about this on the Velo-City pages of the European Cyclists' Federation.
The Velomobile – King of the Road
Essentially, a velomobile is a three wheeled recumbent bike inside a aerodynamic shell. These bikes have demonstrated their potential, durability and versatility over millions of kilometers on European roads and trails.
Cycling is said to be the most efficient mode of human power transportation. Velomobiles are the most efficient mode of cycling. Here are the GPS readings of one of the riders on the Roll Over America Tour (ROAM) for each of the days – a good illustrations of what these machines are capable of.
Velomobiles combine:
- supreme efficiency because of their aerodynamic shape, comfort, and speed
- every-day usability, fully equipped with lights and effective brakes, offering weather protection and load carrying capacity
- with a high visibility on the road as well as in public because of their unique appearance.
Velomobiles are designed for commuting over longer distances. Most velomobile riders use their machines every day, to ride to work, to run errands or for other daily mobility needs.
They are rare and raise a lot of attention, in particular as a group. Thus, velomobiles are perfect catalysts for a dialogue on sustainable mobility.