Folding handlebars?

Just came across this (no, I am not being productive at work today, ok?)...

http://gizmodo.com/5015133/folding-bike-handlebars-so-obvious-it-took-this-long-to-think-of-it

Do not know what to make of it. Could make sense on commuting bikes as a way to save space and potentially as an additional anti-theft device (sure would be hard to steer with the bars this way).

Discuss...

 

I don't see the added value. You still have the pedals preventing the bike from going flush against the wall. And where/why does one need to fold the bars back in any case?

 

Does seem to reduce storage width.

 

Pedals don't stick out as much as handlebars though. But the utility is somewhat limited unless one has to store a bike in a very narrow space. It is not like the handlebars of various bikes are hitting against each other and hindering the number of bikes that can be stored in a bike shed.

 

You can get folding pedals, there's some on Sheldon Brown

 

Folding pedals and bars... now that would streamline things.

 

Folding pedals would take care of the excess width.
Folding bars would be good on a crowded train, bus, or other mass transit, for those that multi-mode commute, and those who keep a bike or two in the trunk of the car.

 

Folding handle bars. I guess thats kind of cool. I like them the way they are though. I mean you might as well have the hole bike to fold up and this is a completely different thing altogether.