This Google Street View Trike is designed so the company can grab images from off-road footpaths and other inaccessible terrain in Europe for the Google maps application. First deployment will be Italy and then the UK. It is just wonderful what those guys come up with, although we’re feeling just a tad sorry for the poor geek dude who has to pedal the rig around the hedgerows. We’re assuming there’s electric pedal assist buried in there somewhere?
The so-called Google Trike, which the company describes “a mechanical masterpiece comprising three bicycle wheels, a mounted Street View camera and a very athletic cyclist in customised Google apparel”, will arrive in the UK to make some “special image collections”. It’s up to the public, however, to tell Google via a vote which locations should be photographed. There are five categories to choose from, picked by VisitBritain: Castles, coastal paths, natural wonders, historic buildings and monuments and stadiums.