Portland, OR (PRWEB) August 30, 2011
Gabriel Wartofsky, award-winning mobility designer, has launched his Kickstarter funding campaign entitled Folding Electric Bike for Commuters to begin U.S. manufacturing of folding electric commuter bikes.
Wartofsky’s design, a lightweight, compact, intuitively folding electric bike, empowers commuters to get to the nearest bus stop or rail station, and, after commuting, to their office or school without breaking a sweat, or losing the environmentally conscious benefits of traditional bike commuting.
Wartofsky, born and raised in Washington, DC, grew up in a family with no automobile. His mother earned cult notoriety in the Chevy Chase, DC area and recognition in the Washington Post as the bike lady. His ecological mobility solutions have won multiple awards and publishings, including the Michelin Challenge Design Competition, Interior Motives and Dura Design Awards. Wartofsky also has work experience as a design consultant to companies that include BMW Design Works, Nissan, Bike Nation and Big Blue Bus of Santa Monica.
I want people to again experience the joys of the bicycle my mother enjoyed for most of her life, said Wartofsky. My challenge was to design a bike that will enable commuters to reacquaint themselves with the hidden magic that surrounds daily travel. An easy, fun way to get around.
Kickstarter, a funding program for designers of creative projects to reach out to potential supporters via the Internet, is the perfect platform for Wartofsky to highlight his commuting solution. The hands-on nature of Kickstarter allows those interested in helping shape the future of commuting to directly participate and collaborate in the final design and production decisions for the electric bike.
Everyone who backs the project receives something from getting their name on Gabriels newly launched companys web site for only a $ 1 pledge, participating in crowd-sourcing, receiving a t-shirt they helped design, going to Gabriels star-studded launch party in LA, or even purchasing the folding e-bike at less than the price of top folding bikes without electric assist.
The best part of Kickstarter is that it allows everyone who wants to, to be involved said Wartofsky. I’ve been working on prototypes for this bike for a long time, and I need help in taking my final prototype into full production.
The funds raised during Wartofskys Kickstarter campaign will be applied to launch the U.S. production of his folding e-bike. Product launch and his first production run are slated for Q1 2012.
About Gabriel Wartofsky
Gabriel Wartofsky is an award-winning designer who aims to improve the way we move around our neighborhoods, cities and planet with desirable, responsible design solutions. His passion lies within the intersection of vehicles, mobility systems and spatial design. Born and raised in Washington, DC, Gabriel holds degrees both from Georgetown University and Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California. For more information, visit his designers blog at http://karinsbike.wordpress.com/, or http://consciouscommuter.com.
Art Center College of Design, Pasadena, CA, is supporting Wartofsky in the launch of the folding e-bike project that he developed while working on his Bachelor of Science in Transportation Design degree at Art Center. In addition to helping spread the work of his project to students, alumni, and friends of the College via blogging, their web site and emails, Art Center will feature his folding e-bike in their booth at the annual L.A. Auto Show, at Forward Motion: Advancing Mobility in California & Quebec on September 21, 2011, in Pasadena, CA, and at the annual Car Classic at the Colleges Hillside campus. Additionally, Art Center has offered Wartofsky to host his official product launch party on the roof of their award-winning LEED certified South Campus building.
Conscious Commuter is a trademark of Conscious Commuter Corporation. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.
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Mobility Designer Gabriel Wartofsky Launches "Folding Electric Bike for Commuters" Kickstarter Campaign
