The suitcase you can ride to the airport

By Barry Neild, CNN

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

    Slovenian frequent flier Bostjan Zagar's Olaf suitcase can also be ridden as a scooter
    Zagar has raised investment in his concept via the Kickstarter funding platform
    Olaf comes in three models: Business, Urban and a flexible version that can carry a variety of bags

(CNN) -- Ever wished you could clamber aboard your cumbersome luggage to zoom down a hill or coast through an airport?
Driven by the same desire, Slovenian frequent flier Bostjan Zagar has come up with the answer -- a foot-powered scooter-suitcase known as Olaf.

"The idea comes from having to catch the next connection flight in three minutes when the gate is on the other side of the world and you need to move faster than those moving walkways," Zagar tells CNN.

Disappointed with available luggage solutions to this problem, Zagar used his background as an automotive engineer and his time waiting for flights to sketch up an alternative.

Now, after three years of "testing, testing, testing," and a soon-to-finish fundraising campaign on Kickstarter, the Olaf is ready to hit the streets.

It's available in three models: an airline-approved carry-on suitcase with a built-in kick scooter; a backpack with kick scooter and a kick scooter that can carry another bag.

All three feature wheely suitcase-style collapsible handles and can double up as a hand trolleys.

'Hardcore engineering'

Zagar, who describes himself as a "hardcore engineering guy," says he grew up preferring scooters to skateboards because he liked being able to control the speed.

Needless to say, his suitcase scooters are all fitted with brakes.

Even with this sensible feature, Zagar says travelers in some parts of the world may be wary to step aboard.

"What we learned is the typical reaction in Europe was 'oh cool, I want to have one, but how will I look? People are staring at me.'

"This is the problem in Europe, people don't want to stand out from the crowd. For sure, it's not for the shy ones."

Olaf clearly has considerable appeal though.

With the final hours ticking down, Ljubljana-based Olaf's Kickstarter campaign has raised well in excess of its $27,000 target.

The scooter-suitcase, it seems, is already on a roll.

Culled from cnn.com