Trek’s Lime commuter bike, aimed at non-cyclists, has won a People’s Choice award at the 2009 National Design Awards. Proving that the critics and writers either know nothing or are uniformly ignored, this happened despite almost uniform bad reviews.

The comfy bike with fat saddle, laid-back riding position and hub-dynamo powered three speed automatic gears got the accolade from the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum in Manhattan last week. Here’s what Trek has to say about the machine:

At the center of Lime’s design is the reminder that riding a bike should be as enjoyable today as it was when you were a child. With its comfortable, upright riding position, automatic transmission and pedal brakes, Lime is designed to ride the way we did as kids — spontaneously, socially, and to experience the sheer joy of motion.

We can’t argue with any of that, but we would say that you don’t need a Trek Lime to enjoy spontaneous, enjoyable riding. In fact, I’d recommend buying an old beater that you can lock up around the city without worrying, rather than a heavy and conspicuous new bike. At the same time, we realize that the act of buying new gear is an essential part of beginning a new fitness regime (which explains the piles of unused dumbbells in my apartment), and getting people on bikes is the important thing here.

There is one big irony, too. The People’s Choice award was voted for in the least fit and active way possible: via the internet.

Press release [PPOL News via Core77]

Product page [Trek]

See Also:

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