ZIEH
Basic information
Project Title
Full project title
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Project Description
E-scooter increasingly integrated in our public transport options. Wheelchair users are excluded from the easy use of them. "ZIEH" which means pull in German is an idea to provide an easy-to-use gadget to combine nearly any wheelchair to nearly any scooter. It's few parts and reduced design improve the use in terms of its understandability and maintainability. It's dimensions make "ZIEH" easy to store in your backpack.
Geographical Scope
Project Region
Urban or rural issues
Physical or other transformations
EU Programme or fund
Which funds
Description of the project
Summary
In recent years, e-scooters have become increasingly integrated into our daily traffic. For many, they are a welcome and seriously taken alternative to the under-ground, bus and tram. However, people who are dependent on a wheelchair are still completly disregarded in that matter. To make it possible for wheelchair users to use rental scooters in public spaces, I have developed ZIEH (in engl. ‘pull‘ ).
ZIEH consists of three basic components. The flat build allows the device to be stored easily in a backpack. The simple design and reduced components make the use easy to understand. The articulated steering system enables a comfortable steering. The rounded end of the arm with a rubberized surface allows different angles to be achieved. The round slot guarantees an approximate 90° position to the tube.
Key objectives for sustainability
Thanks to the reduced design and the few parts that "ZIEH" consists of, the material costs are generally not particularly high. Since the connecting arms are identical, tooling production is simplified. The simple construction is easy to maintain and repair. Made of aluminum, or other metal with similar properties, the main components are easy to recycle. The textile bands could be made of cotton or a particularly robust and resistant synthetic fiber. The rubber patches that protect the surfaces of the contact surfaces and provide additional support could be made of a biological rubber. The compact size of "ZIEH" also facilitates shipping and reduces packaging material.
Key objectives for aesthetics and quality
"ZIEH" is designed with a reduced strictness. Large radii connect the narrow straight lines that form "ZIEH" 's distinctive triangle. The width of the circumferential band is proportionally adjusted to the connection to the e-scooter. The edges are rounded down to half the width of the arms for a more pleasant use and a softer appearance. Aluminum sandblasted and black anodized I imagine as a particularly elegant variation.
Key objectives for inclusion
Because of its basic function, the inclusion of wheelchair users to a publicly accessible shared mobility option, "ZIEH" meets the requirements of inclusion. It still lacks some safety. Uninfluenceable factors such as handlebar height make it difficult to use.
I have tested several prototypes on rental e-scooters from suppliers commonly used in Germany. Driving and braking works very well. Unfortunately, no height-adjustable rental scooters are offered, so you can‘t get around a „chopper“-like posture. Also, the straps used in the prototype did not exert enough force, so when the scooter tips over, it is not held in place. To start an e-scooter, it needs an initial push. Because of the instability, you can only push off with one hand on the wheelchair. This makes starting a little more difficult.
Physical or other transformations
Innovative character
"ZIEH" has an easy usability due to its reduced and light form language. Because of the few components and their materials, it can be easily manufactured, assembled, maintained, repaired and recycled. Due to its function as a connector between wheelchair and publicly accessible e-scooter, it can be understood as an inclusive project. By integrating wheelchair users into a system that "everyone" can use, one could also speak of a social design project. That is why "ZIEH" combines the three dimensions.
