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.
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.
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.
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?
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
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.
