Joshua Patel
Wheel The Track
Wheelchair for Improved Accessibility on Nature Walks.
This is a narrow-framed wheelchair that improves accessibility in narrow areas. It has been custom-made for one of New Zealand's most popular nature attractions known as the Redwoods Treewalk in Rotorua. It features a clean and sleek aesthetic that takes away from the medical design language most wheelchairs incorporate. This improves the social image of the user, as well as allowing them to be comfortable and enjoy the experience. It features a seatbelt for the users safety as well as a storage pocket on the back of the seat for small items.
Redwoods tree walk is a 700-metre-long, walking experience in Rotorua’s Redwood Forest. It consists of 28 suspension bridges and 27 Redwood trees. There are a few physical limitations of the Redwoods tree walk which are also relevant to other tracks in New Zealand. These limitations include, but are not limited to; steps, tight corners, curbs or drops, and low-width areas such as suspension bridges which are 45cm wide. Most wheelchairs are at least 60cm wide. In Auckland alone, only 50 of 250
walking tracks are wheelchair accessible.
Not being able to experience nature has a negative effect on mental and physical health. It is something that everyone should be able to experience no matter their physical ability.
I have designed a narrow-frame wheelchair that allows disabled people to participate in the Redwoods tree walk in Rotorua. Not only does this assistive device improve accessibility, its sporty and sleek design allows it to move away from the medical language that traditional wheelchairs often embody. This results in a more positive social image which further improves the mental health of the user.
