This project by TI Cycles of India was an initiative to venture into a new segment. There was no presence of such a segment in the Indian market, which provided a huge opportunity for the company to target potential consumers with such a product.
The project was a result of rigorous brainstorming and preliminary market research. The Indian market was a new platform for such a product. Hence, obtaining user feedback and demands on such a non-existing product was a big task. The survey had to be designed to allow the users to speak for themselves rather than have them answering questions to get a better picture of the situation. Feedback from the social, cultural and economic point of view was considered to refine the project brief. Issues of ergonomics, safety, comfort and experience, physical and mental abilities guided the concept. Research done on elderly people and products helped in taking the concept further to realizing a working prototype.
With changing scenarios in the world, with new developments in society, culture and technology, the bicycle is still an elementary mode of conveyance for a majority of elderly people. Also, the survey revealed that they have grown up riding bicycles. Hence, it became imperative to design a bicycle, which could enhance their experiences.
The project has been an eye opener to me: the belief that one should dream and face the impossible with hope, and move forward has been ingrained. Some incidents made me realize the importance of having elderly people in our society, as there is a lot to be learnt from them. It was also a very challenging task as the segment chosen by me was new to me and there was no reference work in place to which I could go back in critical situations.
