Tetra Society Creates Modified Bicycle
Tetra Society is an organization that builds innovative solutions for people with physical disabilities, providing greater independence, quality of life, and inclusion. Tetra recruits volunteers who work with clients to design and build assistive devices that are custom-made for the individual – these are devices that are either not available commercially or cost-prohibitive.
Joshua Baker and Omer Mohamed are work term students at Tetra Society NL Chapter. Their client is a young girl with Cerebral Palsy who has difficulties balancing herself on an ordinary bicycle. Joshua and Omer modified a 20"-children-bicycle into a bicycle with two side wheels, a backrest, and a footplate. They built adjustable side wheels to help with balance and decrease the risk of overturning. Additionally, a belt and a cushioned backrest were added to support the girl’s upper body. Finally, the students designed and 3D printed a footplate with raised edges to prevent the girl’s feet from sliding off the pedal while cycling.
Joshua and Omer utilized Memorial University’s labs and resources throughout their project. They cut, welded, and painted the backrest and the side wheels frame using machines at the MUN Engineering’s Technical Services Workshop. Also, the footplate was printed at the 3D Printing and Prototyping Lab using Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol (PETG) and Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) filaments provided by the university.