hugbike is a new type of tandem bike designed for people with autism

hugbike is a new kind of tandem designed to allow the use of a bicycle to people with autism, down syndrome, fragile X syndrome, blindness or other disabilities. thanks to its unique long handlebars, hugbike lets the driver sit at the back and direct the bike, while the passenger at the front can relax and enjoy the ride in total safety. created by opera della marca srl, the project is promoted and supported by the fundation oltre il labirinto onlus, which is one of the world’s leading non-profit organizations in the autism field. in fact, the bike is partly assembled by a group of workers with autism, which provides them with a safe working opportunity.

all images courtesy of hugbike

on traditional tandem bikes, the driver sits at the front, directing the vehicle through his handlebar, while the passenger sits at the back. on hugbike, things are reversed, with the person at the back controlling the bicycle in absolute safety while allowing the passenger to sit at the front, embraced and hugged. thanks to protection provided by the driver’s arms, this particular posture ensures greater safety, especially if the passenger is a child or an elder. though designed for people with disabilities such as autism or down syndrome, the bike is also perfect for families with small children, friends, and couples.

hugbike is created by opera della marca srl and promoted and supported by the fundation oltre il labirinto onlus, an italian non-profit organization that provides assistance, education, service and support for persons with autism. the project promotes the social inclusion of disabled people in a safe and supervised working environment by making them a part of the bike’s assembly.