'Riderless' bike scheme could see cycle lanes widened

Based on technology similar to Google's 'driverless' cars, the bikes guide the rider to a chosen point anywhere in the town, using a combination or satellite navigation, artificial intelligence and a mobile phone app.

Riders can choose to pedal if they like, or simply cruise to their destination with their hands off the handlebars.

To improve safety for other road users, the bikes will initially have their own cycle lanes, separate even from other cyclists.

Watford's streets could be given over to cycle lanes

The technology is the brainchild of Dr Raleigh Grifter, of the Slipgear Institute of Cycling Technology.

Dr Grifter said: "This will bring the ease of driverless cars to more people, allowing commuters to prepare for meetings, catch up on emails or simply relax in today's increasing automated world.

"I want cyclists just to be able to enjoy the ride."

In case of an emergency, the bikes will have an 'override' emergency safety feature, which uses a verification code sent to the user's mobile phone in an email or text.

The rider then programs this into the computer on the bike's handlebars and is able to take control, averting disaster.

A map of all Watford's streets is loaded into the bikes' navigation system, including known traffic blackspots and streets where parked cars are likely to be along the edge of the road.

The bike is programmed to avoid these areas and find alternative routes, which Dr Grifter admitted led to some unusual routes and longer journey times.

"The ring road, St Albans Road and Whippendell Road was a surprise," he said. "We had no idea why the computer was taking our test cyclists on there at rush hour, until we realised it was perfectly safe because traffic was at a standstill.

"Also, how did I end up in Hemel Hempstead and what is going on with that roundabout?"

A camera and sensors mounted in the bike bring the rider to a firm halt if they try to ride through a red light, unexpectedly go up a kerb or cross a junction in front of other vehicles.

"We had to adjust the brakes in early models," admits Dr Grifter. "There were unexpectedly high medical bills."

Dr Grifter is so confident in his bikes that he believes handlebars and brakes may be a thing of the past, and it may even be possible to do away with the bike's front wheel, if he can perfect a gyroscope in the hub of the back wheel.

This could become a common sight on our streets

Riderless bikes are not Dr Grifter's first foray into cycling-based science. He is credited with being the first person to discover the 'mag' wheels on his BMX could be mended by putting them in the freezer, after he broke his when he did a jump in the park to impress Judy in the top juniors in 1987 and left his bike out in the cold.

He has now progressed to AI.

The complex logarithms directing the new bikes were tested using members the LycraWarrior Cycle Club in Pedallingen, Denmark. Dr Grifter hoped the AI systems would learn from the behaviour of experienced riders.

"But we found a mismatch between what riders were reporting and the data our computer showed," he added.

"They would tell us they had been on a 50km training route, but our route tracking showed they had gone five miles up the road to the nearest cafe, where our recordings showed they had sat around eating cake and bragging about their VO2 max, whatever that is.

A cafe, the natural habitat of the poseur's bike

"Also, we gave them prototypes of the most advanced bikes in the world and found they immediately went online and started looking for upgrades."

Dr Grifter hopes to bring the final version of his bikes to the streets of the UK by 2025, once any teething problems have been ironed out.

Asked if his riderless bikes were not just another hazard to be added to today's increasingly congested streets, he said: "No, that's e-scooters.

"Honestly, they are for people who can't even be bothered to get on a bike and pedal a bit.

"Still, you can't stand in the path of progress or you'll get mown down."