The contest
I will award points more or less equally in three areas:

Utility -- The basic ability to do the job, and do it efficiently.

Safety -- Mostly of the operator, but including security against theft.

Convenience -- The ideal urban vehicle is fun and easy to use. Here I will include items that affect operator comfort, as well as vehicle storage capacity.

On the forms due by 11 a.m., you must record your largest and smallest useable gear ratios, preferably in gear-inches. If you don’t know it, you will have to count sprocket teeth. If you have a standard derailleur system, I need the number of teeth on the largest and smallest chainrings on the front and sprockets on the back, along with your drive wheel diameter, and any step-ups or step-downs in gearing in between.
     The rest of the tasks occur at three stations, which can be done in any order. Contestants should keep their own scoring sheets with them until all tasks are completed, then turn them in to me.

     One station, as mentioned, is the hill-climb/coast-down. If using the same vehicle for the UTC as for the rest of the events, you need only run this once. You can then make some changes to your vehicle to make it suitable for the UTC. If you have separate vehicles, make sure you make a run with your UTC vehicle and its unique number. I will only use the coast-down distance for the UTC score, not the hill climb time.
     The second station will be static testing. The vehicle and operator will be weighed, with points awarded for lower vehicle weight as a proportion of operator weight. We will measure the height of the operator’s eyes (higher is better for seeing things) and the overall length and width (smaller is better for getting around and storage). We also will evaluate daytime visibility and lighting system. Reflectors and bright colors are good and bright lights will earn points. Weather protection will be evaluated. We will check for tools, spares and anti-theft devices. Finally, a judge will evaluate the rider .
     The third station will consist of some dynamic tests. The turning radius --the smaller the better -- will be measured by operator demonstration. Each contestant will be allowed up to three attempts to make their tightest possible turn without a foot touching down, at any speed.
     This will be followed by a short, timed slalom course on the parking lot, where the timing starts with the operator at some distance from the vehicle, choosing zero, one, or two bags of dummy groceries. On the clock, the groceries are loaded, the driver mounts, and starts the course. Groceries can't be hung from handlebars; they must be secured to the vehicle or rider.
     The clock stops at the finish line, but the rider must then apply the brakes, attempting to stop as quickly as possible while maintaining a straight course. Points are awarded for faster times completing the course and for shorter braking distances. Fifteen seconds of time is subtracted for each bag carried. Penalties are assessed for dropping or abusing groceries, hitting cones, falling off the bike, etc.
     When contestants finishes all the tasks, they should turn in their forms to me. Depending on the number of contestants, final results may not be available until Sunday morning. Prizes will be awarded at the start of the general awards ceremony.

Points system
     Points will be awarded in the 13 elements described below.
     1) Coast-down -- Ten points to the vehicle which coasts the farthest, fewer points for the rest.
     2) Weight -- vehicle weight divided by rider weight. 10% or less gets 10 points, one fewer point for every 4% greater than 10%.
     3) Rider vision -- one point awarded for every 6 inches of eyeball height starting with zero at 24 inches off the ground. Subtract one or two points for minor or major obstructions/restrictions to forward vision. Add a point for a functional rear-view mirror, another if there is more than one.
     4) Daytime visibility-- measure highest point on vehicle/rider (may include helmet or flag). Award a point for every 8 inches above 30 inches. Bonus point for substantial area of bright color (vehicle, not clothing), another for kinetic device such as flag or spinner in clear view.
     5) Nighttime visibility -- one point for any headlight, two if it is brighter than my flashlight. One additional point for basic taillight, another if it is large and/or bright. One point for rear-facing reflector(s) of sufficient size, another for good reflectors facing all sides.
     6) Size -- smaller is better. Multiply overall length by width at widest point (may be the operator) in inches. Six points for 1,000 or less, subtract a point for every 500 square inches larger than 1,000.
     7) Weather protection -- if rider protected from wheel splash, one point for front, another for the rear. Another one, two or three points for fairings; partial front, full top with head out, fully enclosed respectively.
     8) Other comfort factors -- start with three points. Deduct one if seat lacks a back rest or two if the seat is small and hard. Subtract another point if weight is borne by hands/arms, or if seat is extremely laid back with no head rest. Add a point for single wheel suspension or two for full suspension. (Front and rear Pantour suspension hubs earn only one point combined.)
     9) Gear ratio for hauling and hills -- determine lowest useable gear ratio in gear-inches. Five points if less than or equal to 10 gear-inches. One fewer point for every 5 gear-inches greater.
     10) Tools/spares/lock -- one point for spare inner tubes (all required sizes) if accompanied by a means to inflate. Another point for a patch kit .One point if carrying a few tools, another for complete kit. One point for some kind of lock, another for excellent lock or clever anti-theft device.
     11) Turning radius -- one point for every 30 inches less than 350-inch diameter turning circle
     12) Grocery slalom run. Total elapsed time from accepting groceries some distance from parked bike to crossing finish line (thus including packing and securing cargo, mounting vehicle and starting). Subtract 15 seconds for each bag carried. Add 10 seconds for each course violation or abuse of groceries. A point is earned for every 5 seconds that the adjusted time is below 110 seconds.
     13) Braking distance -- measure from finish line to farthest point on vehicle when stopped. Award one point for every 3 feet less than 32 feet. Penalties for lack of control may be assessed, subtracting one point for minor stumble, up to three points for a crash.
     These add up to a maximum of 105 points, but no vehicle will get the maximum in all categories.
     Winning scores in past competitions have been in the 70s. I didn’t have tandems in mind when I designed the UTC, but I will award an additional seven points to any vehicle that has the capability of carrying one or more passengers.
     Competing in the UTC will be fun and easy and the prizes will be worthwhile. See you there.