Here are some other descriptions:

A velomobile is a vehicle for personal transportation which is characterized by:

Muscular drive, also supported by auxiliary engine, but no driving license required.

Weather protection by either full or partial fairing which will protect the passenger from wetness and dirt from above and below.

A comfortable seat which will facilitate entering and exiting without danger of soiling.

Luggage space,which will allow for carrying baggage even for longer holidays

The preceeding definition was taken from, The Everyday Velomobile: Who Uses it and who could use it?¹ By Jurgen Eick

A somewhat more exciting description is taken from Encycleopedia 4:²

Velomobiles can offer a higher level of mobility than the motor car, need no fossil fuel, cause no pollution, have full weather protection, and have higher comfort and safety than a conventional bicycle. Magic machines? Maybe.

The trick is to combine a full fairing for weather protection and aerodynamics with lightweight practical design. It is a fascinating concept, and challenges the supposed advantages of the motorcar. The velomobile is a human scale alternative which can catch the attention of the vast non-cycling public. Some velomobile owners ride 10-20,000 km per year, more than many car drivers, it's an idea to change people's lives...

...The Term Velomobile covers a wide range of vehicles. Some have fairings which are removeable for fine weather, others are of monocoque design. Some have the option of motor assistance to extend their range and make hills easier. Detail is important: ventilation has to be just right, lighting is usually integrated in the design, and the weight must be stricly controlled. Most velomobiles designed for human power alone weigh in at under 30 kg.

I agree with this descriptive post to the velomobile list by Tim Taylor:

Message 5
Date Fri, 14 Dec 2001 104622 -0700
From: Tim Taylor (ttaylor@cc.usu.edu)
Subject RE [Velomobile] WG definition
To Hirsch Hanno , velomobile@ihpva.org

Hanno,

I think velomobile has a broad definition. For most of us it is a human powered vehicle with some type of body used for protection from the elements and runs on wheels (the velo portion velomobile).

One wheel or ten wheels would still qualify, so your bike is just as much a velomobile as a trike.

Your 3/4 fairing would definitely fall in the definition. Where most of us would draw the line between bike and velomobile would be a personal thing. A unfaired bike could be considered a velomobile because it is a vehicle that is human powered and uses wheels. Most of us on the list would probably draw the line between 1/2 and 3/4 faired as the transition from bike to velomobile. Examples: recumbent bike with a Zipper front fairing and tail box would not be a velomobile while your 3/4 bike would be. As I said that is up to each individual how they perceive it.

{snip}

Return to main page