Pumpmobile

It would be nice to be able to get some exercise while driving, but the tricky part is coming up with a safe way to do it. One idea posted here suggested adding a set of bicycle pedals that are useable to control the car, but it's hard to see how this could be used safely.

But what if you used a pair of reciprocating pedals, similar to airplane rudder pedals? You could position them so they would never interfere with the standard gas and brake pedals (this would only really be feasible on an automatic anyway), but so they could be used as an alternative means to control the car.

Pumping at roughly a constant rate maintains the cruise control setting. Pumping faster increases it, so to change speeds (e.g. when merging onto a freeway) you would apply a brief “sprint” followed by a steady “jog”. Pumping more slowly decreases the cruise control speed, and not pumping at all causes the car to coast. Mashing both pedals simultaneously applies the brake. With only a little practice, driving via pedal power should feel as natural as the traditional way.

In an emergency, or if you just get tired of pedaling, you could quickly and easily move your right foot to the standard gas/brake controls.