Car body, pedals and gears, 2005
In this project, all superfluous devices were removed from an 86’ Buick Regal – the engine, suspension, transmission and electrical system – thereby reducing the weight of the vehicle whilst preserving its appearance. It was then equipped with 4 independent pedal and gear mechanisms that make it possible for passengers to form the self-propulsion group. A cutting edge transmission technology was developed to transmit the power supplied by the passengers to the drive wheels and to vary the reduction ratios between cyclists and wheels, so as to ensure their progressive coupling for start-ups. With a top speed of around 15 km/h, the vehicle’s resistance to the culture of performance is raised to an unprecedented level.
Releated Links:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynTKnPehv24
http://mercerunionhall.blogspot.com/search?q=shared+propulsion+car
http://www.network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/toronto/archive/2008/04/03/pedal-powered-car-creator-heads-to-court.aspx
http://spacing.ca/wire/2008/04/04/pedal-car-not-guilty/
http://www.thestar.com/News/GTA/article/410165
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/toronto/story/2008/04/04/pedal-car.html
http://www.discoverychannel.ca/shows/showdetails.aspx?sid=8102
http://www.canada.com/topics/news/story.html?id=4659d2bc-15ca-457b-9f06-2b0343b7d927
http://www.citynews.ca/news/news_21336.aspx
http://www.ctvtoronto.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20080403/pedal_car_ruling_080403/20080403/?hub=TorontoNewHome
http://www.boingboing.net/2008/04/03/flintstonesstyle-ped.html#comments
http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G1-153412312.html
http://www.thestar.com/comment/columnists/article/282480
http://www.blogto.com/arts/2008/04/fred_flintstone_vs_the_man/
Mercer Union
Press realease
The driver of the art work ‘Shared Propulsion Car’ arrested on queen street, by the Toronto Police.
The driver of the art work Shared Propulsion Car was arrested by Toronto Police on October 25 on Queen Street West in Toronto. The revolutionary vehicle is an art work create by the just-announced winner of the 2007 Sobey Art Award Michel de Broin. It was made of a Buick Regal 1986 body stripped of its engine, suspension, transmission and electrical system and propels by the will to power of its passenger. The vehicle retains the illusion of the mass-produced luxury automobile, but is now reduced to a shell with a top speed of 15km per hour. This unique car needs no petrol, produce no toxic emission and is not responsible for the innocents people killed for petrol in the Middle East. Furthermore, in this individualist society, this convivial car was proposed as a good solution to bring people together and take over the street. Dean Baldwin an experience driver, took the steering wheel and with his fellows Elaine, Dave and Dan drove the car carefully on the street. The reaction of the public was enthusiasm, solidarity and sympathy.
They drove 9 blocks (from Lisgar to Strachan) before being pulled over by the police.
The driver and passengers were left to wait for 30 minutes in the car while we suspect the cops tried to determine which exact law was broken. They settled on "operating an unsafe vehicle" and a tow-truck was called.
We believe there is noting in the law against this car, the problem is only in the perceptions: police can’t accept a car to be modified and to be moving without petrol. They gave the driver an order to appear before a judge on the 21 of November. The problem for the court will be to argue that the Shared Propulsion Car can be dangerous while we all know that the danger remains in the use of petrol car. It is rather the other car that are obviously dangerous. We believe the court is taking a big risk of bringing our car to spotlight. It is always striking when art become politic and win its right publicly. Our Plan is to tow the car to the courthouse, win our cause and then be able to drive the car freely on the street of Toronto.
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