Quadricycle

A Quadricycle is a four-wheeled human-powered vehicle. It is also referred to as a quadracycle, quadcycle, quadrocycle or as a four-wheel bicycle.

History

The earliest recorded pedal-powered quadricycle was exhibited 1853 at the Exhibition of the Industry of All Nations World's Fair held in New York [http://www.internationalsurreyco.com/products.htm International Surrey Company Website accessed 3 December 2006] ] . This was about the same time that two-wheeled bicycles started to become popular. Quadricycles were one solution to the problem of low-speed stability in early cycles and were typically multi-seat models (as seen in the picture). Both tandem (in line, as depicted) and sociable (side-by-side) seating configurations were used.

Historically the most common layout placed the wheels at the corners of a rectangle. An alternative layout had its wheels at the angles of a rhombus (or, more generally, at the angles of a geometric kite). The rhombus layout proved less convenient, because such vehicles were less stable and left three tracks instead of two.

Other uses of the term

The first experimental steam automobiles were sometimes called steam quadricycles. The Ford Quadricycle was one of the few very early internal combustion cars called motor quadricycles. The terms "automobile" and "car" rapidly became universal, supplanting this usage except in countries where some microcars still use the older name.

In the UK the term Quad bike refers to a motorbike style vehicle with four wheels that was straddled by the rider.

Modern quadricycles

Quadricycle use diminished in the late 19th century as a result of improvements in bicycle technology that made their four wheel cousins largely obsolete, although small numbers were manufactured through the 1950s for rental use in tourist areas.

A resurgence of twentieth-century quadricycle use occurred in France where Charles Mochet introduced his Velocar pedal powered two-seat quadricycle in 1924. The various models of the Velocar featured wooden aerodynamic bodies and usually a three speed transmission. Production of final pedal-powered Mochet Velocar Model H ended in 1938, but Mochet went on to become a manufacturer of automobiles. The Velocar proved quite popular, especially during World War II when the French population was under German occupation and gasoline was virtually unavailable for civil use. Restored Mochet Velocars are still found in France. [ [http://web.ncf.ca/fn352/quadracycle/quadracycles.html#History Quadracycling in Ottawa website About Quadracycles, A Bit of Quadracycle History accessed 23 September 2007] ] [ [http://www.mochet.org/ Mochet.org website (German Language) accessed 23 September 2007] ]

During the 1970s and 1980s there was a resurgence of interest in quadricycles as personal transportation, driven by the 1973 oil crisis, environmental concerns about automobiles and the search for emission-free alternatives. [ [http://web.ncf.ca/fn352/quadracycle/quadracycles.html Quadracycling in Ottawa website accessed 18 December 2006] ]

Modern quadricycles can be generally placed in five categories.

Tourist destination rental

Quadricycles can often be found at tourist attractions where they are available to rent by the hour or day. Modern tourist quadricycles usually feature open seating for two or more riders in a sociable configuration. These vehicles are often designed to look like early 20th century automobiles with a bench seat, rack-and-pinion steering and canopy top. They are commonly called "surreys", due to their resemblance to horse-drawn wagons of similar appearance and the same name.

Examples of this type include:

* International Surrey Company Surrey
* Quadricycle International Quad-3 [ [http://www.quadricycleintl.com/en/quad3-specifications-sheet.html Quadricycle International Website accessed 19 November 2006] ]
* Rhoades Car 4W4P [ [http://www.rhoadescar.com/4w4p-a.htm Rhoades Car Website accessed 18 November 2006] ]
* Sirenetta [ [http://www.worksman.com/Italiansurreys.htm Worksman Cycles website accessed 27 November 2007] ]

Pedal taxi

Similar to the surrey are pedal taxis or pedicabs. These tend to be four or even six seaters and are used as taxis, pedalled by professional drivers. Like the rental surreys, they are often found at tourist attractions and in the downtown areas of tourist destination cities.

Also like the rental surreys, pedal taxis are often constructed to resemble early 20th century cars and often feature awning coverings for sun protection.

Examples of this type include:

* International Surrey Limousine
* Momentum Quadracycles MQ4 Cabbie [ [http://www.momentumquadracycles.com/models.htm Momentum Quadracycles Website accessed 19 November 2006] ]
* Quadracycle Inc QuadraCab [ [http://www.quadracycleinc.com Quadracyle Inc Website accessed 19 November 2006] ]
* Delphino (Limo) [ [http://www.worksman.com/Italiansurreys.htm Worksman Cycles] ]

Touring

Touring quadricycles are constructed specifically for the personal ownership market and are built to be lighter and faster than rental surreys. Typically they seat one person or two people in side-by-side seating and feature independent pedaling and gear selection. They can have up to 192 gears, giving them remarkable hill-climbing capabilities [ [http://www.lightfootcycles.com/microcar.htm Lightfoot Cycles MicroCar webpage accessed 03 December 2006] ] . These touring quadricycles are used for long distance travel as well as local use; some are used for cycle-commuting to work [ [http://www.biketraffic.org/biketraffic/BT0702/#quad Bike Traffic Website accessed 20 November 2006] ] .

Compared to touring or hybrid bicycles, touring quadricycles are more comfortable to ride, can navigate steeper hills more easily, deal with crosswinds better and can carry a much heavier load than a bicycle. Touring quadrcycles have disadvantages compared to bicycles including that they are heavier, require more storage space, typically have slower cruise speeds, are more complex to maintain and have a larger turning circle. [ [http://web.ncf.ca/fn352/quadracycle/quadracycles.html Quadracycling in Ottawa Website accessed 18 December 2006] ]

Examples of this type of vehicle include:

* Lightfoot MicroCar [ [http://www.lightfootcycles.com/microcar.htm Lightfoot Cycles MicroCar Webpage accessed 3 December 2006] ]
* Momentum Quadracycles MQ2 Leisure [ [http://www.momentumquadracycles.com/models.htm Momentum Quadracycles Website accessed 19 November 2006] ]
* Quadracycle International Little Deuce Coupe [ [http://www.quadracycle.com/index.html Quadracycle International Website accessed 19 November 2006] ]
* Quadracycle Inc QuadraSport two-seater [ [http://www.quadracycleinc.com/showroom/showroom.html Quadracycle Inc Website accessed 19 November 2006] ]
* Rhoades Car 4W2PCP two-seater coupe [ [http://www.rhoadescar.com/4w2pcp-d.htm Rhoades Car Website accessed 19 November 2006] ]
* Ultimate Quadracycle CC-Sportster [ [http://www.ultimate-quadracycle.com/showroom/sportster.html Ultimate Quadracycle Website accessed 19 November 2006] ]

There are also plans available as well as some amateur-designed touring quadricycles made by combining two bicycles. These designs have had varying degrees of success [ [http://www.helmets.org/forbuild.htm Helmets.org website accessed 29 November 2006] ] . Examples of plans built quadricycles are:

* Skeldon Bike Co. Granny Bike [ [http://www.thegrannybike.com The Granny Bike Company Website accessed 29 November 2006] ]
*Atomic Zombie StreetFighter [ cite web|url = http://www.atomiczombie.com/product-streetfighter.htm|title = The StreetFighter Quad Cycle|accessdate = 2008-02-29|last = Atomic Zombie |authorlink = |year = undated]

Mountain quadricycles

Some quadricycles are designed to be the four-wheel counterparts of mountain bicycles and are optimised for strength and the ability to deal with steep and rough terrain. These are all single seat designs.

An example of this type is:

* Crank-It Mountain Quad [ [http://www.crank-it.com Crank-It website accessed 23 November 2006] ]

Industrial use

There are quadricycles designed for local delivery of goods, such as spare parts in a factory environment or laundry at spread-out hotel complexes. They may have two seats and a pickup box or flat bed to allow loads to be transported. They are also capable of pulling small trailers.

Some quadricycles in this category have also been designed for military applications, such as light logistics transport.

Examples of this type of quadricycle include:

* Momentum Quadracycles MQ1 Industrial [ [http://www.momentumquadracycles.com/models.htm Momentum Quadracycles Website accessed 19 November 2006] ]
* Rhoades Car 4W2PLF [ [http://www.rhoadescar.com/4w2plf-g.htm Rhoades Car Website accessed 19 November 2006] ]
* Rhoades Car Go Boy [ [http://www.rhoadescar.com/goboy-m.htm Rhoades Car Website accessed 19 November 2006] ]

ecurity

Lacking the mass and door locks of automobiles, quadricycles are often secured in the same manner as bicycles with "U" or "D" locks, chains or cables to convenient stout objects such as fence posts, signs or bike racks. cite web|url = http://web.ncf.ca/fn352/quadracycle/quadracycles.html#Security|title = About Quadracycles - Security|accessdate = 2008-04-15|last = Quadracycling in Ottawa|authorlink = |year = 2008|month = April]

Legalities

Quadricycles are classified as "bicycles" in many parts of North America and must be operated by the same rules as bicycles. In other parts of North America they are classified as "vehicles" and must obey vehicle road-use rules. [ [http://www.cbc.ca/clips/mov/ot-fischer-quadracycle-070402.mov CBC.ca News Website accessed 10 May 2007] ]

ee also

* Cycle rickshaw
* Freight bicycle
* Human-powered transport
* Party Bike
* Velocipede
* Velomobile
* Surrey

References

External links

* [http://www.bhsi.org/fourwhel.htm List of Manufacturers] accessed 19 Nov 2006
* [http://helmets.org/fourwhel.htm List of quadricycle dealers]
* [http://www.cbc.ca/clips/mov/ot-fischer-quadracycle-070402.mov Interview with City of Ottawa (Ontario) Police on quadricycle legalities] (Video) accessed 21 May 2007
* [http://www.automotivehistoryonline.com/Ford.htm Henry Fords Quadricycle - History & Photos]
* [http://www.dself.dsl.pipex.com/MUSEUM/TRANSPORT/quadcycle/quadcycle.htm History of 19th Century Quadracycles]