The first braking system for wheelchairs

Anicet Mbida 06:52, December 01, 2022

The innovation of the day could change the daily lives of people with reduced mobility.

This is the first braking system for wheelchairs.

Surprisingly, it didn't exist!

Except on electric wheelchairs of course.

But on a manual wheelchair, we had no choice but to hold the wheel with our hands to slow down.

Imagine the hell when you're rolling down a slope.

We quickly burn our palms.

Fortunately, there are now special wheels, equipped with an ultra-intuitive braking system.

There is no lever, no joystick, nothing… Everything is done naturally on the handrail.

It is pushed forward to move the chair forward.

And just pull it back slightly to slow down.

To give you an idea, it works on the same principle as on Dutch bikes, those where you have to backpedal to brake.

The system allows, suddenly, to turn, holding one side while advancing the other.

You can also go in reverse or switch to freewheeling, exactly like on traditional wheelchairs.

To benefit from it, do you have to buy a new chair?

No, you can simply buy the wheels and replace those of your current chair.

Then, the system is mounted very simply like bicycle wheels.

It is a Lille startup, called Eppur, which designed it.

Its engineers have been working on it for almost six years.

And after many adventures, it is finally marketed.

The pair of wheels still costs 2000€, which is not cheap.

But the company is currently doing everything so that it is partly reimbursable by social security.

That would make it a bit more accessible.

It's still surprising that no one has thought of this before...

It's true.

So there have already been several attempts.

In particular a kind of emergency brake, like a handbrake.

But who could get you off the chair?

We also tried handles like on bicycles.

But no device has succeeded in reaching industrialization.

Result: people with reduced mobility now find themselves planning their route meticulously to avoid steps, stairs and steep slopes.

Proof that there is still a lot to do in terms of accessibility.