The bike was created by Izhar Gafni, who compares the creation of frame’s cardboard structure to Japanese origami—folded to spread out the weight and increase durability. Designed to be extremely light and to need little maintenance or adjustments, the solid tires are made of reconstituted rubber from car tires and the chain has been replaced with a car’s timing belt. A full-sized bicycle weighs about 20 pounds and can support a 400 pound rider.
Gafni’s company, Cardboard Technologies, also has plans for other cardboard products, including wheelchairs, strollers and shopping carts. They are seeking funding on Indiegogo.