Disabled children around the world ride trikes, it is much more than a recreational activity. Hospitals and rehabilitation centers use tricycles for rehabilitation, physiotherapy, promoting independence, muscle development, and balance.
This project was conceived after visiting a rehabilitation-children’s hospital in Jerusalem, and seeing the struggle with the standard rehab trikes.
I designed the A2B trike to provide disabled kids the possibility to mount and ride entirely by themselves. When a child mounts the trike, stepping on the pedal back locks the wheels, enabling the child to literally walk over the rear wheel right into a seated position. The chest support keeps the child stabilized with his weight, and the whole trike can be customized and easily fitted to each child’s needs. The gear in hub based in the rear wheel makes it easy for the child to pedal since less force is required to drive the system. The steering is cable driven so very small movements translate into larger ones providing for the various hand disabilities.
test models model"
All model making, design, fabrication, machining and milling by Shabtai Hirshberg
Functional model testing with disabled children in the Alyn hospital Jerusalem
Article in Metropolis magazine
https://metropolismag.com/programs/freedom-ride/
