HIVE : urban commuters’ footwear

Abstract

Bikes are everywhere. The sheer number of bicycles on the streets of cities, and even in upscale clothing store windows, is proof enough that the bike boom is upon us. Gone are the days when bikes were seen as the last-resort transportation of the poor or the domain of men in tight shorts and brightly colored jerseys. Far more women and men of all ages, backgrounds, and occupations are riding, wearing whatever they like to do so. Bicycles are the classic solution to so many of the issues that seem to plague our cities like traffic congestion and pollution. While cycling is a common form of transport, many urban commuters choose to wear walking or running shoes that are unable to provide them with sufficient foot support while cycling. Yet, cycling shoes in the industry today are often too uncomfortable for cycling commuters to wear on a casual daily basis. HIVE technology consists of a re-designed and revolutionary shank plate embedded in the HIVE sole, to provide maximum foot support and comfort for both cycling and walking. HIVE footwear aims to challenge stereotypes of cycling footwear seen in the industry today and revolutionize the shoe-making process with 3D printing technology.