US

Occupy Wall Street Will Use Bikes to Generate Electricity

Call it “pedaling for progressivism.”

Occupy Wall Street has turned to bicycle-powered generators to provide electricity for its laptops, cell phones — even a projector screen.

Occupy Wall Street Using Bikes to Generate Electricity

Photo Credit: Amelia Marzec

The Occupy Wall Street campsite has been effectively without power since the FDNY seized the Occupiers’ gas-powered generators last week. And on top of that, it was a bitter cold weekend in New York City, with the earliest snowfall in 59 years.

So to keep their digital insurgency humming despite dropping temperatures, the Occupation’s Sustainability Working Group will be going green with bike power.

Huffington Post reports that the Occupiers plan to use the power-generating bikes in several locations  around Zuccotti Park. OWS is requesting bicycle parts and electrical system donations from the public to help with this new project.

The Sustainability Working Group, which includes members from MIT Media Lab, Pedal Power, and Time’s Up!, will be spearheading the bike power project and trying to find the know-how and material needed to make it work.

Occupy Wall Street Using Bikes to Generate Electricity

It won’t be easy.  HuffPo quoted a Brooklyn electrician who volunteered to help the Occupiers as stating that,”It can take up to two hours of uninterrupted pedaling to reach 12.5 volts.”

Others estimate that six hours of continuous pedaling would produce about 100 hours of battery use.

Perhaps the Occupiers believe another side-effect of the bicycle generation project will be just keeping warm.

And as Occupy has already turned into something of a downtown tourist attraction, with double-decker buses passing every few minutes, there are already plans afoot to bring more legs into action.

“People get really excited when they see these bikes,” an Occupier told the Times. “I’m going to ask the tourists if they want to help pedal.”

Watch the video below on the Occupiers’ “green energy” program to get a sense of what they are planning, and their call for funding despite reports that they have already raised nearly $500K (clip courtesy of Youtube):

Comments (153)

  • machochris
    Posted on October 31, 2011 at 1:18pm

    Yea, I saw this in Omega Man with Charleston Heston how many years ago…

    Report Post »  
    • Lantern
      Posted on October 31, 2011 at 1:34pm

      I saw it on Gilligan’s Island :-D
      I wonder if they will also use coconut batteries.

      Report Post » Lantern  
    • dirtydog1776
      Posted on October 31, 2011 at 1:47pm

      Soylent Green with Charlton Heston and Edward G. Robinson. Was Mr. Heston trying to give us a message about zombies and a government that wants to turn us into dinner?

      Occupy Wall Street, like most liberal movements, reveals a desire to turn back time and repeal the rights of people.

      Report Post » dirtydog1776  
    • Therightsofbilly
      Posted on October 31, 2011 at 1:58pm

      Gonna create their own power huh?

      Perhaps they can combine their pedaling with their yoga.

      I can hear them chanting now………Ohm……..ohm………..ohm……

      Sorry, couldn’t resist(or)

      Report Post » Therightsofbilly  
    • mils
      Posted on October 31, 2011 at 1:59pm

      These people need to be disbanded..now.
      The longer they stay the more they are entrenched and some terrible things will start to happen to and with them.
      I‘ve read that ACORN is now OWS’s banker???? Tax Deductible donations for OWS??? wow, we really are falling apart.

      Report Post »  
    • AvengerK
      Posted on October 31, 2011 at 2:11pm

      LANTERN…I haven‘t stopped laughing at the Gilligan’s Island quip..that was brilliant.

      Report Post »  
    • DTOM_Jericho (Creator vindicator)
      Posted on October 31, 2011 at 2:26pm

      Shouldn’t they need more bikes since they would also need to provide me with power? Where do these people get off thinking they can only provide power for themselves? Freaking racists! Why do they get all the bike power and we get none? They are the .01% and we are the 99.99%. They need to pay their fair share to us. It works better when we spread the wealth around. End bike energy greed now!

      Report Post » DTOM_Jericho (Creator vindicator)  
    • SerikFox
      Posted on October 31, 2011 at 2:42pm

      @TheRightsOfBilly I don’t think you understand yoga. Not all yoga is spiritualized. The yoga I‘ve done hasn’t been. Yoga is just a series of stretches and exercises (which do actually work btw). I‘ve never heard anyone chanting that during yoga when I’ve been to the class. A lot of the “wierd stuff” they say is actually a description of the physical feeling. There are actually some christian yoga groups. That‘s not to say there aren’t some really strange yoga groups – just that most yoga groups are not like that.

      Report Post »  
    • IronSights
      Posted on October 31, 2011 at 2:59pm

      I want to see the permits for this. Also, I see an electrician volunteered, was everyone involved in setting this up been certified and tested to do such work? Lastly, has the city inspector come by yet and made sure its up to code. Or does none of this apply to OWS and only working stiffs like me? Just askin.

      Report Post » IronSights  
    • Therightsofbilly
      Posted on October 31, 2011 at 3:22pm

      @SERIKFOX

      It was nothing more than my attempt to “generate” a little humor.

      Although I admit it may not be relevant to everyone.

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ohm's_law

      Report Post » Therightsofbilly  
    • My Two Cents
      Posted on October 31, 2011 at 4:01pm

      I believe the OWS ECO bike has a better chance of success than Solyndra ever did. Maybe Barry should cough up another half a billion and back them.

      Report Post »  
    • kaydeebeau
      Posted on October 31, 2011 at 5:42pm

      Isn’t the “volunteer” electrician scabbing the work from a unionized electrician? Aren’t there laws against that in NYC?

      Report Post » kaydeebeau  
    • chips1
      Posted on October 31, 2011 at 8:56pm

      I wonder if they would mind if I plugged in my BOOMBOX? Share the electricity.

      Report Post »  
    • Obama Been Lauding
      Posted on November 1, 2011 at 6:06am

      But Wait!!!
      The Department of Energy has a loan it wants to give to these freeloaders, for massive solar panels, so they can power a transister radio, and use as cover for the upcoming snow!!!!

      Report Post »  
    • V-MAN MACE
      Posted on November 1, 2011 at 3:27pm

      One bike can power an entire block if electronics were designed properly to use as little current as possible with back-electromotive force from the collapse of the magnetic field into the atoms of the conductor.

      Our devices waste too much energy and they’re designed backwards in terms of how electricity really works, considering positive current flows in the opposite direction of conventional current, and has the effect of cooling down while running instead of heating up.

      Report Post » V-MAN MACE  
  • plastinoid
    Posted on October 31, 2011 at 1:17pm

    “I’m going to ask the tourists if they want to help pedal.” Hahahahahahaha……Why because you know that the Occupiers are too lazy to pedal for there own cause? Hahahahahahahahaha……you people are so lame! Why not just ask for donations from the wealthy 1% so you can hire other people to do your protesting against the wealthy 1% for you?…….oh yeah, that’s what that 1 percenter George Soros is doing with you.

    Report Post » plastinoid  
    • 13th Imam
      Posted on October 31, 2011 at 1:24pm

      I have this Chair I want to donate . First we strap you in, Attach all electrodes, then everyone pedal real fast. When well done, Remove, Rinse ,,Repeat

      Report Post » 13th Imam  
    • Polwatcher
      Posted on October 31, 2011 at 1:33pm

      If they pump really hard, they can light up a 100 watt light bulb. These are kids having fun with the media and the media kids are enjoying it. We need grown up solutions to our problems.

      Report Post »  
    • drattastic
      Posted on October 31, 2011 at 1:36pm

      @PLASTINOID
      My thoughts exactly ,even wanting someone else to power their toys for them,feed them,pay them,clean up after them ,etc…

      Report Post » drattastic  
  • IAMMADDOG
    Posted on October 31, 2011 at 1:16pm

    “Occupy Wall Street has turned to bicycle-powered generators to provide electricity for its laptops, cell phones — even a projector screen.”

    For their laptops, cell phones and projector screen, which would not even be available to them were it NOT for CAPITALISM. This is a convention of the “Will work for food” industry. By the way NONE of the “will work for food” people ACTUALLY expect to work. They expect to just be handed cash by people feeling guilty.

    Report Post »  
    • Channel3
      Posted on October 31, 2011 at 1:31pm

      @IAMMADDOG

      Go one step futher and ask a “Progressive Liberal” where the material came from to make the laptop, cellphone, car, house, building etc.. they so enjoy (mined from the earth using heavy machines).

      Then ask them how all of those items were made/built (manufacturing plants, concrete plants, bulldozers, coal fired power plants, nuclear power plant).

      Watch their eyes glaze over and ask them if they would perfer to live in a hut made of Yak dung, being warmed by a Yak dung fire and using a donkey for transportation.

      Report Post »  
  • Busdriver4u
    Posted on October 31, 2011 at 1:14pm

    I think a wind generator would work better. It could run off all the hot air coming out of the park. If they all exhaled at once …just think.

    Report Post »  
    • seeker9
      Posted on October 31, 2011 at 1:50pm

      Michael Moore would be excellent there.

      Report Post » seeker9  
    • pjmarshake
      Posted on October 31, 2011 at 2:02pm

      Put him in some courderoy pants and make him walk on a tread mill… That will generate enough static electricity to power all of Manhattan!

      Report Post » pjmarshake  
    • AxelPhantom
      Posted on October 31, 2011 at 2:31pm

      Methane gas! They have a lot of that after eating all that bolognaise.

      Report Post »  
  • king1
    Posted on October 31, 2011 at 1:13pm

    sounds like they need to get a life and a job and a bath

    Report Post »  
  • Joe Camel
    Posted on October 31, 2011 at 1:11pm

    The answer to small power needs are right there with them, solar and wind, augmented by “mechanical” produced power. Good lord folks, it is not rocket science to generate the power needed at your site. Just some parts, basic electronics knowledge and someone to put it together. You would think with all those LARGE brains running around, they would have this figured out already. Maybe the “Remedial Basket Weaving” degree is not much help these days.

    Report Post » Joe Camel  
  • plastinoid
    Posted on October 31, 2011 at 1:11pm

    “I’m going to ask the tourists if they want to help pedal.” Hahahahahahaha……Why because you know that the Occupiers are too lazy to pedal for there own cause? Hahahahahahahahaha……you people are so lame! Why not just ask for donations from the wealthy so you can hire other people to do your protesting for you?…….oh yeah, that’s what George Soros is doing with you.

    plastinoid  
  • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
    Posted on October 31, 2011 at 1:10pm

    So they want the tourists to bike to generate their electricity? They are too ever loving lazy to get on the bikes and do some real work after all…figures.

    Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
  • COFemale
    Posted on October 31, 2011 at 1:09pm

    Wow, $8000 for 11 bikes; Here is a thought, Get a freaking job and buy them yourself.
    I have a question who owns the bikes once this little fiasco of a protest is over? Who gets to claim ownership? Do these idiots plan to stay all winter in Zucotti park?

    They are the laughing stock of Wall Street; while they remain warm and still making money, these idiots are accomplishing NOTHING!

    Report Post » COFemale  
  • AnAmerican111
    Posted on October 31, 2011 at 1:08pm

    Garbage mixed in with garbage! Bunch of losers!

    Report Post »  
  • ourig
    Posted on October 31, 2011 at 1:07pm

    let me know where should i send the money for the bike ….not hahahahahahahahahahahahah morons

    Report Post » ourig  
  • COFemale
    Posted on October 31, 2011 at 1:03pm

    Lets send them parts made in China; that should last only a few hours before they fail.

    Report Post » COFemale  
    • atechgeek
      Posted on October 31, 2011 at 1:08pm

      Well at least they will be in shape and less of a strain on the system. Someone’s got to be riding a bike all the time. I get it .. why not step back to a time before the wheel was invented. Then we can really start from scratch !!
      This is soooooooooo STUP—ID !!!!
      Enjoy the snow !!!

      Report Post »  
  • Obama_Sham
    Posted on October 31, 2011 at 1:02pm

    “HuffPo quoted a Brooklyn electrician who volunteered to help the Occupiers as stating that,”It can take up to two hours of uninterrupted pedaling to reach 12.5 volts.”

    If an electrician really made this statement, then the knowledge of the trade has gone to h3ll…

    Report Post » Obama_Sham  
    • atechgeek
      Posted on October 31, 2011 at 1:09pm

      Which is why he can’t find a job and is at OCW. LOL
      Proof that Capitalism rewards hard / smart work.

      Report Post »  
    • GhostOfJefferson
      Posted on October 31, 2011 at 1:10pm

      I questioned the stupidity of that statement myself. You can reach working voltage on a DC or AC generator almost immediately, peddling or from any normal means of turning a generator. Wind generators produce useful current at 7mph (most of them) which is hardly some enormous speed.

      I tried plugging “amps” into that too, and it made no sense. In fact, I have no idea what the guy, if he existed, was trying to say. Maybe “takes 2 hours to crank enough amps into a battery to be of use”?

      Report Post » GhostOfJefferson  
    • Obama_Sham
      Posted on October 31, 2011 at 1:28pm

      @Ghost

      Welcome to my specialty…

      Generated voltage is proportional to magnetic field strength and relative motion between the conductor and the magnetic field… In other words, speed and magnetic field dictate the voltage level generated… It has nothing to do with time… Time would be taken in to account when calculating how much current would be needed to sustain the load (or in this case, charging a battery)…

      I thought maybe the electrician was either misquoted (which is not unheard of by HuffPo) or meant to say… At a bike speed that would produce 12.5 volts, it would take about 2 hours of pedaling to fully charge a small lead acid / glass mat / gel cell battery… At least, I hope that is what he said / meant to say…

      Report Post » Obama_Sham  
    • Ben__Franklin
      Posted on October 31, 2011 at 3:16pm

      Yepper, Union Electrician Extraordinaire. My back ground is Mechanical and I know enough about Electrical to know the guy is clueless in that statement. May be he meant two hours of heavy peddling to charge a 12V Battery for use.

      My question is – how are all these losers that claim to be jobless, students with 100K in debt they cannot pay back, homeless due to forclosures, etc…etc…. but have all these new fangled expensive electronics (that require monthly service fees) that I do not even own and need power?

      Here is my prediction, a few dumb f’ks will get on these things and peddle until it hurts. The few will take turns most of the day. By the next day when they see they are the only few dumb f’ks doing all the work – they too will quit. This is the same senario this country is going to see when the 53% of us working hard for what we have get sick of doing all the work so these dumb sh’ts at the OWS protests can live for free.

      Government sanction to steal from your doctors to increase the pay of your janitors so they are all equal leaves the country with nothing but a bunch of janitors and no doctors.

      Report Post »  
    • Just_Bubba
      Posted on October 31, 2011 at 5:07pm

      I think he is actually trying to state the level of charge in the batteries after thay have been drawn down and recharged for 2 hours. 12.6 volts DC = a fully charged 12 volt lead acid battery…he just can’t relate the info very well. Ohms Law is just that …the LAW. He should expound on that and state from what level of charge thay are beginning their 2 hours of charging and how many amps of output their gens put out and at what voltage. Your car alternator puts out just over 14 VDC in order to “force” the charge into the storage battery. A 200 amp/hour battery would give you the ability to draw 10 amps for 20 hours before complete discharge. You should stop discharge at half that, which would end up with a voltage somewhere in the 11 volt range or so. To replace the charge would take a gen that makes 10 amps and they would have to pedal for 10 hours. This would mean they have something like a 14 volt / 50 amp generation capability to recharge in 2 hours…not likely. Never mind they are too lazy to peddle that long!!! The poor tourists are in for a long hard ride on a stationary bike.

      Report Post » Just_Bubba  
  • Channel3
    Posted on October 31, 2011 at 1:02pm

    “I am going to ask tourists if they want to help pedal”

    Typical. Always looking for someone else to do the work.

    Pedal your own stupid bikes!

    Report Post »  
  • timej31
    Posted on October 31, 2011 at 1:02pm

    Good I hope they flourish.

    Report Post » timej31  
  • TH30PH1LUS
    Posted on October 31, 2011 at 1:01pm

    HAHAHA this is awesome! A virtual communism experiment right before the eyes of the public. This is going to end badly. Communism ALWAYS ends badly.

    Report Post » TH30PH1LUS  
    • AvengerK
      Posted on October 31, 2011 at 2:15pm

      I was thinking the same thing…it’s turning into a sitcom.

      Report Post »  
  • Kisha
    Posted on October 31, 2011 at 1:00pm

    Oh I’ve officially heard it all now!!! I can die now! This story takes the cake!

    Report Post » Kisha  
  • KickinBack
    Posted on October 31, 2011 at 12:57pm

    I would say that the bike peddlers would have the best chance of staying warm once they have their “Valley Forge” moment. I’m not sure about New York winters, but as an old boy scout, I can tell you that sleeping in a tent in winter is BRUTAL.

    I’m also thinking this could be fun. We should start a betting pot. I‘ll bet they pack up and run for home before New Year’s. (I might be giving them too much credit, but again, I’m not familiar with New York winters.)

    Report Post » KickinBack  
    • Stoic one
      Posted on October 31, 2011 at 1:12pm

      I would like to pitch in on their effort. I would like to simulate the oppressive government regulations by using a pair of locking pliers to clamp the brake on the bicycles so that these fellow ****-sapiens can experience in a visceral way what these regulations are like.

      Report Post » Stoic one  
    • Stoic one
      Posted on October 31, 2011 at 1:16pm

      H-O-M-O in conjunction with sapiens

      IS NOT VULGAR BLAZE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

      Report Post » Stoic one  
    • Brooke Lorren
      Posted on October 31, 2011 at 2:16pm

      I wonder if there is InTrade stock on that very same question…

      Report Post »  
    • chips1
      Posted on October 31, 2011 at 9:04pm

      KICKINBACK:
      New York winters are just like winters in Hawaii, except for the temperature.

      Report Post »  
  • Brooke Lorren
    Posted on October 31, 2011 at 12:55pm

    I’ve looked into those bike generators before, as an investment. When the world completely collapses and the electrical system completely fails, then it might come in handy.

    Report Post »  
    • chazman
      Posted on October 31, 2011 at 12:59pm

      … what a pack of Ultra Maroons! LMAO!!

      Report Post »  
    • GhostOfJefferson
      Posted on October 31, 2011 at 1:03pm

      OMH, no, don’t. What these are, are “food powered generators”. Just existing in normal activity takes the average woman 2,000 calories and the average man 2,500 calories. You’ll be doubling up or more on food to make enough electricity to be useful.

      Something these silly little Occuposers don‘t understand either I’m afraid. Show of hands, who wants to work up a huge sweat in the middle of winter, when you’ll be retiring to your tent afterwards? Anybody? Didn’t think so.

      Report Post » GhostOfJefferson  
    • timej31
      Posted on October 31, 2011 at 1:05pm

      When I did this I had about 20 out of work illegals (use to do drywall work but housing bust) pedaling and it still didn’t run my 60 plasma and humidor. I need more energy than this.

      Report Post » timej31  
    • KickinBack
      Posted on October 31, 2011 at 1:06pm

      When the world completely collapses, you have to rely on the three G’s. God, Gold, and Guns.

      Report Post » KickinBack  
    • 8jrts
      Posted on October 31, 2011 at 1:08pm

      @ghost
      Yeah you’re right….maybe a cold sweat will send them home. If not, a good snowfall surely will.

      Report Post » 8jrts  
    • Channel3
      Posted on October 31, 2011 at 1:10pm

      The calorie expendature far outweighs the net power output of a bicycle generator.

      Report Post »  
    • Brooke Lorren
      Posted on October 31, 2011 at 2:21pm

      I agree Kickinback, you have to have the 3 Gs. But that’s not going to get any electricity to run when there is no more electricity, and no more gas to run a generator with.

      Course by that time, I’ll probably be living in a cave anyway, hiding from the Communists that would otherwise try to kill me, but you never know what the future holds…

      Report Post »  
    • Ben__Franklin
      Posted on October 31, 2011 at 7:05pm

      It will not work Lorren. Energy cannot be created or destroyed but only transformed into a different form with an efficiency loss. You will be peddling your butt off for a little juice. Your battery is only going to last so long. If the economy collapses and the country falls into lawlessness, what are you going to power? Where will you get the spare parts?

      Report Post »  
  • capitalismrocks
    Posted on October 31, 2011 at 12:54pm

    See how long that lasts, it will require volunteers who will put in the time and effort while the lazy good for nothing sits on their asses all day…

    In the cold you want to do less and less, so getting them motivated will be difficult…. They’ll have to bribe people with better food and better accomodations to put in the time on the bikes (oh wait!!! Would that be considered bribery, some K Street Whores at work?!?!?) The more these people struggle, the longer this goes on, the more and more their day to day living is turning back into normalcy or rules, regulations, policing, and having to go directly against all of the things they claimed there were against in the first place… its irony in motion.

    Report Post » capitalismrocks  
    • pjmarshake
      Posted on October 31, 2011 at 1:57pm

      Don’t they have to actually do something in the first place for them to do less of it?

      Just asking…

      Report Post » pjmarshake  
  • KangarooJack
    Posted on October 31, 2011 at 12:51pm

    Wait! Just give it less than two weeks. They will be pulling the extension cords from those they deem not worthy of their efforts. Kinda like pulling the plates out from under the homeless whom they have deemed not worthy of supporting their 99% cause…guess, they don’t compute in their equations…

    Report Post » KangarooJack  
    • capitalismrocks
      Posted on October 31, 2011 at 2:14pm

      I’ve been waiting for the first news reports that fire and ambulance had to go in because some genius tried to tap the wiring to the lighting in the park… I would hope they shut down all power in the park since who knows what the condition of things are in there… those animals could’ve tried to tap into the power lines, if there were any phone boxes in there, you know they are stealing phone service…

      I hope everyone in the surrounding area has encrypted their WIFI or shut it off because you know these mouchers are trying to steal everything they can from everyone, they are disgusting filth at best, useless garbage at worst.

      Report Post » capitalismrocks  
  • Diablo4965
    Posted on October 31, 2011 at 12:49pm

    what is this guy a heroin addict? Pause at the 44 second mark look at his forearm and you tell me!
    I wouldn’t doubt it.

    Report Post » Diablo4965  
  • Psychosis
    Posted on October 31, 2011 at 12:46pm

    how appropriate

    all that energy expended pedaling a bike…………..and still getting nowhere

    kinda like democratic policies

    Report Post » Psychosis  
    • DimmuBorgir
      Posted on October 31, 2011 at 12:47pm

      stupid hippies, have fun

      Report Post » DimmuBorgir  
    • The_Almighty_Creestof
      Posted on October 31, 2011 at 12:56pm

      You should be happy…it is a step towards taking responsibility for themselves and self-reliance. Maybe out of all this nonsense they’ll finally learn to wipe their own butts.

      Report Post »  
    • Channel3
      Posted on October 31, 2011 at 1:15pm

      This is the Democrat base in action and on display for all to see.

      LOSERS.

      Report Post »  
  • Psychosis
    Posted on October 31, 2011 at 12:44pm

    im going to continue doing my snow dance

    why dont the posers buy themselves the bikes with the money they have already begged for

    Report Post » Psychosis  
    • biohazard23
      Posted on October 31, 2011 at 12:58pm

      Ha ha ha ha ha!!!! Need anymore volunteers for that snow dance?

      Report Post » biohazard23  
    • honor007
      Posted on October 31, 2011 at 1:07pm

      I am right with you. I hate snow, but I want LOTS of it in NYC~
      Doing my snow dance too~

      Report Post » honor007  
  • I_Hate_Libs
    Posted on October 31, 2011 at 12:41pm

    Perfect now we can get rid of the hand outs to green job companies that can’t seem to make a dollar. Solyndra, Light Squared, etc…

    Anyone But Obama 2012!

    Report Post »  
    • JLGunner
      Posted on October 31, 2011 at 12:47pm

      Yes, but what they didn’t tell you was that barack gave them $750,000 to build the bike. I hope the protesters aren’t too lazy to get on there and pedal. That would be another tradjic waste of taxpayers money.

      Report Post » JLGunner  
    • netmail
      Posted on October 31, 2011 at 12:56pm

      Yes, Govt Bike Company will bill your household $5,000 for a ‘bike power set up’ in your home and your family will be responsible for 8 hrs of ‘power pedalling’ per day.(or else??) All of mankind’s problems solved right there. Next?

      Report Post »  

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