Shabtai Hirshberg from School of Practical Engineering at Hadassah College Jerusalem designed this trike to encourage physical activity among kids suffering from neurological or muscular disorders. Yanko Design, the most excellent design blog, explains how the device works:
Conceived after visiting a children’s hospital in Jerusalem, designer Shabtai Hirshberg created the A2B trike so disabled kids could mount and ride by themselves. When a child mounts the trike, stepping on the pedal locks the wheels, enabling the child to literally walk right into a seated position. The chest support keeps the child stabilized, and the whole trike can be customized to each child’s needs.The gear based rear wheel makes it easy for the child to pedal since less force is required to drive the system. The entire steering shaft is cable driven so very small movements translate into larger ones.
If you’re wondering why disabled children are riding trikes, it’s more than a recreational activity. Hospitals around the world use it for rehabilitation, promoting independence, muscle development, and balance.
Yanko Design: Trike for Disabled Tikes…
Project page: A2B trike…