MAKE CYCLING AN EXPERIENCE Greg Papove's - Whoopdeedoop bike ramps June 11th 2013 - Designboom While I was reading my designboom mail, I bumped up to this fun way of attracting people to cycle more often. The whoopdeedoop is 'bike ramp' located on pre-existing cycle paths. WHAT DESIGNBOOM TELLS US canadian designer greg papove has launched his latest project in vancouver, BC, entitled 'whoopdeedoo'. by breaking the daily routine of commuter cycling in a fun and spontaneous way, papove implements a series of ramps onto a pre-existing bike path, creating a sense of destination for two-wheeled transportation. as vancouver’s 2040 transportation plan encourages citizens to use multiple forms of transportation to reduce vehicle traffic, the 'whoopdeedoo' project promotes cycling as a fun and alternative form of traveling with bikes. conceived with bright aesthetic graphic elements, the ramp - alongside clever posters and safety signage designed by claire balderston - catches the attention of both cyclists and drivers who can see it from the road. when approaching the obstacle, flags offer an element of safety by providing the feeling of side walls when rolling over, keeping users centered and away from the edges. WHY IS IT COOL? With the well-known problem of obesity, governments and smaller institutions have started to work on prevention. They're searching for ways to motivate people to adhere a healthy lifestyle. One of the ways to live healthy is cycle to work (or school) instead of taking the bus or your car. This project is done in The United States. I'm from The Netherlands and think those countries have another mentality. The Netherlands already cycle a lot. It would be fun and extra motivating to cycle, but not that persuading to make a big amount of people more healthy. On the other hand, The United States aren't that common in cycling and I believe an experience can attract dozens. They are the people that have started the experience economy, the americanization of creating the most complete experiences. Their society loves excitement and new stuff to try out. When attending can only be done on the healthy way of cycling, I do believe they will cycle.
