social needs and challenging innovation

Floods in his village in Bihar prompted Mohammed Saidullah to create a bicycle that works both on land and water. The invention was recognised by National Innovation Foundation (NIF) and honoured him with an award. His innovation needs some modification, design-enhancement and aggressive marketing so that people in the flood- prone areas can use it.

It was in 1975 while moving about in a boat in flood-ravaged Champaran village in Bihar, India; that Mr. Saidullah felt the need to create a bicycle that could be paddled across water. He named the product Noor, after his wife. The vehicle is a conventional bicycle with four rectangular floats attached to the wheel on four sides. Fan blades are attached in radial fashion to the spokes of the rear wheel. When the cyclist pedals in water, the blades attached to the rear wheel rotate and force water backwards, pushing the bicycle forward.

Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=REx9rMDbqRg
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7062940046917388113&q=bicycle+for+flood&total=92&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=1