Pibal Bicycle by Philippe Starck and Peugeot
It’s been a long time since we’ve heard of Philippe Starck. Anyone, who has even a remote idea about design, surely is familiar with that name. Starck became widely known back in the nineties when a crisis in the design system and the rupture with the modernism has allowed him to emerge as a design superstar. Among his most iconic objects you may remember the juice squeezer shaped as a spider or a UFO, whichever pleases you best, or his lamps with the base which took form of a pistol, or even, one of his last designs for Steve Jobs’ yacht (which, as you may know didn’t end that well). Seen that he is so fond of both his superstar status in the world of design and the intentionally shocking objects which have earned him that status, it appears quite strange to see him involved in a project for a urban bicycle. Hey, but here it is, and it also seems actually quite useful and unobtrusive, two adjectives that Starck has deliberately rejected in the past.
The bicycle in question was named Pibal and it is produced by Peugeot exclusively for the city of Bordeaux in France. It is a hybrid between a bicycle and a scooter, specifically developed after the citizens of the town listed a set of needs and suggestions that would allow them to cycle more easily. In fact, the set of references they have submitted has been translated into a perfect urban bike that one may traditionally pedal or, when traffic is heavy, use the low scooter-like platform to push themselves along with one foot. Pibal is made of aluminium and has yellow tires for visibility and big racks at the front and back. Currently developed in a limited edition series by French car manufacturer Peugeot, 300 units of Pibal will be lent to the citizens for free by the end of June.
“Just like the pibale, undulating and playing with the flow, Pibal is an answer to new urban ergonomics,” says Starck, “thanks to a lateral translation which allows oneself to pedal long distances, to scoot in pedestrian areas and to walk next to it, carrying a child or any load on its platform. It only has the beauty of its intelligence, of its honesty, of its durability. Rustic and reliable, it’s a new friend dedicated to the future Bordeaux expectations.” It’s is strange to hear Starck speak of an object in these terms, but since we whole-heartedly support this initiative, we can only say, let’s hope he does so more often.
