Stratus BikeConor Brown | Ed Coe | Kristina Danielyan

User

EM

PATH

Y: A

DAY

IN L

ukh

any

o s

SHo

es

After getting ready in the morning, Lukhanyo begins his daily 45-minute journey to school at 7:15 AM.

A dumping site on his route is filled with hazardous materials, including carcasses, and is unsafe.

This area is filled with thugs who target kids in uniform to mug them. Lukhanyo has fallen prey to them before.

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.

Source:

After getting ready in the morning, Lukhanyo begins his daily 45-minute journey to school at 7:15 AM.

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.

This area is filled with thugs who target kids in uniform to mug them. Lukhanyo has fallen prey to them before.

Once he gets to school, Lukhanyo feels safe and is eager to get to his studies.

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 Facts | Walking to School in South Africa

Risk of violence

exposure to the elements

Fatigue and poor concentration

The Dangers | Walking to School in South Africa

50

% in

S.a

. Are living above the poverty lin

e

25

% A

re ultra-poor

Poverty: Living on less than $2/day

25% Are under

th

e P.

L.

Wealthier Farmers:1,737 S.A. Rand

or $150 / month

Source: Machethe et al. (2004)

Borderline Poor:720 S.A. Rand

or $62 / month

Very Poor:227 S.A. Rand

or $20 / month

Incomes in S.A. Farming communities

opportunity areas

Market Analysis | Potential Buyers in Rural Areas

Early finding: using a bench seat to accomo-date multiple riders

Iterating on frame geometries.

Proposed Solution | Multi-Seat Bike

Concept for the seating.

Stylization and detailing.

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.

Prototype 1 | Proof of Concept

Seat hinge and anchoring

‘Bearings’ and basic suspension

Prototype 2 | Refinement

Steel plate reinforcement

Wheel bearings and suspension axis

Prototype 3 | Functional

User

Tes

tin

g: C

ara, Pa

rke

r and C

oll

in

We confirmed that the seat allows for the rearrangement of kids of various heights.

Testing the seat on the bike showed us that the height of the bench is suitable.

Even a small child can lift the seat easily to tighten the bolt for adjusted suspension.

Even a small child can lift the seat easily to tighten the bolt for adjusted suspension.

The most logical hand placement location turns out to be right under the rider’s seat.

Our smaller tester, Collin, had a little trouble getting on by himself; a peg is needed.

A BIKE FOR WORK...

... AND PLAY.

... and later on as a compact action bike

The bike first acts as a kid’s bike...

Design Features

Rectangular tubing -easy to cut and weld

Suspension - tighten one bolt to adjust

Pegs - keeping the legs out of the way

The backseat detatches to become a cargo rack

Rectangular tubing -easy to cut and weld

Coaster brakes - weather-proof & durable

Single gears -Simple and efficient

Small wheels allow for low center of gravity

Multi-person seat - comfprtably seats 3

industrial manufacturing:JohannesburgCape TownPort Elizabeth

Local welding and assembly:Rural areas close todistribution centers

ManufacturingLogistics

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.