A children's bicycle designed purely for the purpose of play.
There are special bikes for special purposes.
STATIONARY BIKE
Purpose: For exercise
ROAD BIKE
Purpose: to go from one place to another quickly
BEACH CRUISER
Purpose: to enjoy riding from one place to another
WHAT ABOUT A BIKE THAT'S PURPOSE IS FOR PLAY?
How can I increase the play value in a bicycle for kids?
STAGE 1: IDENTIFY USER GROUP
73.6 Million Kids in the United States
*Each child represents 1 million kids
53%
Children ride bicycles more frequently than
ANY OTHER AGE DEMOGRAPHIC.
of American households own at least one bicycle
and get this....
STAGE 2: OBSERVATION
How are kids "playing" with their bikes?
Even though a bike is often a child's first independent mode of transportation, it isn't solely used to transport from one place to another.
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DRIVEWAY PLAY
Most kids actually play with their bikes in a small radius of 2-3 houses away from their home. This is where bikes are currently being "played with" and not solely ridden for transportation.
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They build jumps, create adventure routes with friends, stage role play scenes such as traffic cops or set parameters from their neighborhood as scenes of racing.
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TIME OUT.
How is play being defined?
"Play is often defined as activity done for its own sake, characterized by means rather than ends..."
-Peter K. Smith
Where does this fit into other forms of play?
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In this space, play value increases with play versatility - how well can one thing morph into something else to complete a different purpose?
This "play" from bikes isn't just seen while the bike is being ridden, it's also being played with in a static form too. The crank set provides a new opportunity for play... turning the bike into a machine.
STAGE 3: BRING IT BACK TO USER
USER
CONSIDERATIONS:
-Versatile (can play with while riding and without riding)
- Lightweight
- Low and long (easier to balance)
- Approachable
- Form isn't "locked" into standard bike structure, but can serve multiple purposes
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STAGE 4: PROTOTYPES
A bike designed with this focus is approachable and versatile, capitalizing on the opportunities that the bike mechanisms already allow.
The belt drive allows for grease free interaction and a closed back wheel minimizes risk of injury.
The child is the source of power to create a machine of play and the bike can fluidly adapt to play while riding or in a stationary setting. The lava bike uses the mechanism to power a launcher, putting the power of play into those who do play, the kids.