7 Ways Pedal Power Will Change the World

Riding a bike can do much more than get you in shape and transport you from place to place. Inventors are constantly coming up with clever ideas to harness the power created by bikes. By Laura Kiniry

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Provide Clean Drinking Water

Approximately one in eight people worldwide lack access to safe water, and more than 3.5 millon die annually from water-related disease. Japanese company Nissan Basic is looking to change that with its Cycloclean, a bicycle that purifies water for drinking. Riders bike to a lake or river; once there, they insert an attached hose into the water, place the bike's rear wheel into a stationary stand, and start pedaling. The energy generated activates a pressure pump that propels water through the bike's multi-unit filtration system, producing about 1.3 gallons of clean H₂0 per minute (depending on how fast you're pedaling). According to the company's website, it takes 10 hours (and likely several cyclists) to produce enough drinking water for 1500 people.

The bike also features puncture-free tires to prevent flats and navigate hard-to-reach areas.

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