Public Bikes, Seattle

Over the bridges and along the canals of Amsterdam, the roads teem with bicycles and pedestrians. Everyone moves in a rhythm that makes the crowds flow with ease rather than chaos. It's this kind of scene—one where bicycles are a convenient, sensible, and enjoyable mode of transport—that inspired Rob Forbes to found PUBLIC Bikes.

The company's mission is simple yet inspired: to create bikes and bike accessories designed for use by the average person in everyday life. The practical and stylish products that have resulted include commuter bikes complete with skirt guards to suit almost any woman's wardrobe, as well as accessories like attachable baskets for carting home groceries. Thus, beyond making sustainable transportation an easy and accessible option, PUBLIC Bikes also helps people achieve a lifestyle of easy versatility wherever they go.