From Bike to Wheelchair

"Over 50,000 people in Guatemala are disabled," states Daniel Oliver, Executive Director of Intelligent Mobility International.  "Of these, roughly 20,000 do not have access to any kind of wheelchair."  Intelligent Mobility International (IMI) is working to rectify this problem using an idea that is as powerful as it is simple: building wheelchairs out of bicycle parts.

Photo credit: flickr/moriza

"Our wheelchair is a simple, steel frame, made from materials commonly found in Guatemala," Oliver states.  "Unlike commercial wheelchairs, where the components are expensive and need to be imported from countries like the U.S., our wheelchairs utilize common bicycle components, such as tires, wheels, and bearings, which can be found even in remote towns in Guatemala."  Oliver argues that there are numerous benefits to this approach.  "First, all service and repair of our chairs can be done locally, and for a much lower price.  Second, the bicycle components are very durable, which makes our chairs better suited [than standard wheelchairs] for traversing the dirt roads and rugged terrain confronting our clients."  Daniel Oliver believes that local construction also allows for greater tailoring to the local context.  "Standard wheelchairs are designed for people who are taller on average than Guatemalans.  We've intentionally made our wheelchair with adjustable foot and arm rests to take this factor into account."

The bicycle to wheelchair idea arose out of the Product Design for the Developing World course taught by the California Institute of Technology.  The class involved students from Caltech, California's Art Center College of Design, and Guatemala's Landivar Univeristy, with the combined skills and perspectives present within the group sparking prototypes for a variety of products designed for the 2 billion people in the world living on less than two dollars a day.  A group of students decided to further incubate the bike to wheelchair idea after the course, giving birth to IMI.  The organization's formal mission is to "empower individuals with disabilities by designing and producing safe, durable wheelchairs and mobility devices suitable for the terrain in developing countries."

IMI has since partnered with a variety of organizations and initiatives both within Guatemala and the U.S., and has focused upon developing product, business, and distribution models that could give it a price point per chair of under $150 and position it to scale up production globally.  While focusing upon Guatemala in the near term to prove its concept, IMI's longer range vision is to bring its work to wherever there is need, helping to create a world in which those with limited resources and disability can regain mobility and live active and productive lives.

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Written in collaboration between pcastillo, rrichards, Juan Carlos Noguera, and Daniel Oliver.  Daniel is the Executive Director of Intelligent Mobility International