For the Oregon Manifest Challenge, four teams of University of Oregon students will be working simultaneously in Portland and Eugene to craft stories for the ultimate utility bike.

The team’s goal is not only to deliver a functional and relevant utility bike concept, but also to take a deep dive into the history of the bicycle. They‘re looking for more than quirky and a bit of hipster style; team members look at the true meaning behind the bicycle, and how that can be re-interpreted for a modern and connected city, hoping to discover lost ideas and tell a well-grounded story that goes beyond lifestyle aspects.

University of Oregon sits in the middle of Portland’s buzzing bike scene, where bikes are more than a lifestyle; they’re a way of life. The town that’s brimming with double-decker bikes, unicycles and naked bike rides is ready for something new, functional and not up its own arse.