Another human-powered crazy transportation method that made news recently was the first official flight of a manned, and man-powered, ornithopter. An ornithopter is a craft that flies through the air by flapping its wings, which are as wide as a Boeing 737's. This ornitopter made it a distance of 475 feet in 19 seconds, propelled by the furious pedaling of the pilot inside the tiny cockpit. It has since been retired and will be donated to an aviation museum.

The team who designed and built the ornithopter had a special goal in mind: to show that even air travel could be green. And while the craft may not be the fastest or most practical ride, the team is working to improve the craft by decreasing the weight, increasing the efficiency, and improving the wing kinematics. It sure looks pretty though.