Stratus Bike Conor Brown | Ed Coe | Kristina Danielyan
User EMPATHY: A DAY IN Lukhanyo s SHoes
Lukhanyo is a Rural South African student eager to pursue his education. However, he faces a long and dangerous commute to school that tires him out and puts him at risk of violence. This is his typical daily journey.
After getting ready daily 45-minute jou
Source:
A dumping site on his route is filled with hazardous materials, including carcasses, and is unsafe.
This area is filled wi to mug them. Lukha
in the morning, Lukhanyo begins his urney to school at 7:15 AM.
ith thugs who target kids in uniform anyo has fallen prey to them before.
Lukhanyo wishes he could get to school by taxi like some students, but that option isn’t available to him.
Although the neighborhoods around Lukhanyo’s home are poor, he feels safe there as it’s familiar territory.
Once he gets to school, Lukhanyo feels safe and is eager to get to his studies.
The Facts | Walking to School in South Africa
40% of South africans live in rural areas most children in these areas walk to school the commute, which takes 1-4 hours, leaves the kids exhausted
The Dangers | Walking to School in South Africa Risk of violence
exposure to the elements
Fatigue and poor concentration
Market Analysis | Potential Buyers in Rural Areas
e lin
50% in
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ving above th e li ep r A ov . a e
25
eP .L.
Poverty: Living on less than $2/day
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Ar
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% u
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25%
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Incomes in S.A. Farming communities Very Poor: 227 S.A. Rand or $20 / month
Borderline Poor:720 S.A. Rand or $62 / month
Wealthier Farmers: 1,737 S.A. Rand or $150 / month
opportunity areas
Source: Machethe et al. (2004)
Proposed Solution | Multi-Seat Bike
Iterating on frame geometries. Early finding: using a bench seat to accomodate multiple riders
Stylization and detailing.
Concept for the seating.
We landed on an adjustable single-spring suspension
Tentative First Design
This design was our first complete vision for the bike. We set out to test and prove the design with a series of prototypes.
‘Bearings’ and basic suspension
Seat hinge and anchoring
Prototype 1 | Proof of Concept
Steel plate reinforcement
Prototype 2 | Refinement
Wheel bearings and suspension axis
Prototype 3 | Functional
User Testing: Cara, Parker and Collin
Testing the seat on the bike showed us that the height of the bench is suitable.
We confirmed that the seat allows for the rearrangement of kids of various heights.
Even a small ch tighten the bolt
hild can lift the seat easily to for adjusted suspension.
Our smaller tester, Collin, had a little trouble getting on by himself; a peg is needed.
The most logical hand placement location turns out to be right under the rider’s seat.
A BIKE FOR WORK...
... AND PLAY.
Design Features The bike first acts as a kid’s bike...
... and later on as a compact action bike
Multi-person seat comfprtably seats 3
Single gears Simple and efficient
Small wheels allow for low center of gravity
The backseat detatches to become a cargo rack
Coaster brakes - weatherproof & durable
Rectangular tubing easy to cut and weld
Suspension - tighten one bolt to adjust
Pegs - keeping the legs out of the way
Rectangular tubing easy to cut and weld
Manufacturing Logistics
industrial manufacturing: Johannesburg Cape Town Port Elizabeth Local welding and assembly: Rural areas close to distribution centers
Styling Choices
Turquoise is a lucky color in South Africa and was the inspiration for the more playful coloring.
The black and yellow version of the design gives a more subdued option.
A group of kids can bike together to school in the morninG . . .
. . . and get back home in time to help with chores and play.