Tired of traffic jams or crowded buses? Google is investing $1 million in an entirely new transport idea in which human-powered plastic tubes hang upside down from a monorail.

Google is funding research by Shweeb, a company that developed a bike-powered monorail in Rotorua, New Zealand, where users in suspended pods cycle at speeds up to 28 miles per hour. On its website, Shweeb says it will soon announce where it will build the first network for public use.

Google's investment stemmed from its Project 10^100, which solicited ideas for changing the world. The competition received 150,000 from 170 countries and voters picked five, one of which was "Drive innovation in public transport." Shweeb was chosen as the organization to bring that idea to life.

Melbourne cyclist Geoff Barnett came up with the Shweeb system while living in Tokyo, and after researching it for six years, he launched a test one as an adventure ride in Rotorua in 2007, reports Inhabitat, adding more than 30,000 people have since given it a try.