The Crosstown collapsible bike trailer, a Canadian student invention, is set to compete among the top twenty international designs for the James Dyson Award

Hamilton - Two green thinking Canadian student inventors have earned top honours in the James Dyson Design competition. The Crosstown, designed by McMaster University engineering students Cory Minkhorst and Lindsey Kettel, captured the National crown in the Canadian portion of the competition — and has been selected as one of the top twenty finalists in the world.

Weighing in at just over 10 lbs, The Crosstown is a collapsible flatbed bicycle trailer that easily carries nearly 100 lbs of cargo. When not being used, it folds and stows away above the rear wheel of the bike.

Their Inspiration:

Minkhorst and Kettel were determined to find a way to increase the appeal of bicycle commuting in Canada. They began by looking at factors that deterred cyclists from using their bike for commuting.

“The majority of people we spoke with indicated that they couldn’t run the same errands in a bike that they normally would in a car, for example, stopping on the way home for groceries,” said Minkhorst. “We realized that, in order for bicycle commuting to become a more practical means for daily life, commuters need the ability to transport large or heavy items.”

“The catch was that no one wanted to lug a bulky trailer behind their bike,” adds Kettel. “The Crosstown’s lightweight, collapsible design saves space and energy.”

Competing at the International Level:

The duo has already earned $5,000 (CDN) and a brand new Dyson vacuum cleaner each for their Canadian win. Minkhorst says they’re looking forward to the opportunity to showcase The Crosstown internationally, in the final round of the competition.

The Crosstown will compete against a variety of other entries from across the globe, including a GPS system for guide dogs, a robotic fire extinguisher and a jacket that can calm Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) sufferers.

The international winner will be announced September 7, 2009.