As the saying goes, “If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em.” The entire
notion of taking a “sad” piece of equipment - the wheelchair - and
making it cool, is pretty badass. Here are some of the coolest, most pimped out wheelchairs I’ve ever seen.
- The 35mph Wheelchair
The PUMA is a futuristic wheelchair designed by GM and the makers of the Segway.
It was actually designed for people who can walk, commuters
specifically, with hopes of it one day helping unclog roads. This baby
premiered in NYC last April and has a lithium-ion battery, seats 2,
goes 35mph, and will be able to communicate with vehicles around it (to
prevent accidents). If this ever becomes widely-used, what will
able-bodied people call it? Would anyone use the word “wheelchair” to
refer to a commuting device? Or will people think they’re above that?
- Larry Flynt’s $80,000 gold-plated wheelchair
Tolerate him or hate him, this notorious paraplegic had a custom $80,000 gold-plated wheelchair made
after he was shot and paralyzed by a white supremacist in 1978 (who was
pissed the magazine published pictures of interracial couples getting
it on). I like the gold, but hate the design of the chair. It looks
like a hospital chair frame. WTF Larry?
- The Tank Chair: A rockin' way to make nature your bitch.
- Omnidirectional wheelchairs (still
in their infancy): This technology REALLY excites me. To not be limited
direction-wise would transform the wheelchair-using experience.
- Customized manual wheelchchair with chrome and air-brush effects:
Here is a great example of regular "pimped" wheelchairs that are
starting to crop up across the country. So sexy. I'm currently working
with a glassblower myself to create a glass joystick for my chair (look
for a pic soon).
- Runner-up: The “Barbie Chair"
I have never in my chair-using life ever seen a wheelchair as pink and plastic as this one. I want it.
