Among the sectors most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic are persons with disabilities (PWDs), who now find it difficult to move around due to the limited operations of public transport.
This proved to be a big challenge for Ylagan Kustom owner Jeffrey ‘Pong’ Ylagan, who happens to be a card-bearing PWD himself. About a year ago, the idea of building a vehicle specially designed for PWDs suddenly popped into his mind. Fortunately, Jude Camus of Bajaj Philippines came knocking on his door with a brand-new Bajaj RE, a multipurpose three-wheeler powered by a 200cc engine, for Ylagan to convert into a PWD-friendly ride.
Two days ago, Ylagan showed his custom-made three-wheeler to Top Bikes Philippines and gave us a demo before a scheduled online presentation by Bajaj Philippines. He acknowledged the efforts of his older brother Joel and their friend Ed Pesayo for assisting with the design and the bodywork fabrication.
Ylagan has named his creation ‘PuWeDe,’ and he has high hopes that it will soon be adopted by others for their own use. Here are the 10 modifications meticulously done by his team to make the Bajaj RE a safe and comfortable ride for PWDs.
1) The flooring was altered.
The flooring of the RE was reconfigured to be able to accommodate a wheelchair. The front seat and its bolt placements were also removed to flatten the floor.
2) The steel posts were dismantled.
To allow for easy ingress and egress of a wheelchair, the metal posts that hold the canvas roof from the side of the vehicle were dismantled.
3) The original suspension was retained.
Even with the floor altered, Ylagan Kustom opted to retain the suspension to lower the vehicle so the driver has easy access to the cockpit. According to Ylagan, doing so will not compromise the RE’s handling.
4) The handbrake and reverse levers were relocated.
These were originally located on the RE’s floor. With the driver seated in a wheelchair, the team thought it would be wise to put these controls on the same level as the handlebars for easier access.
5) Braking is now done by hand.
The RE operates like a Vespa PX, which is equipped with a foot brake that stops both front and rear wheels. Ylagan fitted a handbrake lever to the right of the RE’s handlebars. It activates both front and rear brakes, and ensures that the driver’s foot is kept firmly in position on the wheelchair’s step board.
6) A lazy Susan takes center stage.
To allow the driver to rotate his wheelchair inside the vehicle, a lazy Susan was installed on the floor using a set of five-inch bearings underneath a round metal plate. Ylagan also used a spring-loaded locking system mounted on a slim steel post positioned beside the driver to stop the lazy Susan from rotating.
7) Grip tape does wonders.
Strips of grip tape were laid out on the metal floor to prevent the wheelchair from sliding when the vehicle starts moving. Ylagan says grip tape is effective only for low-speed vehicles like the RE.
8) The seatbelt is still a must.
For safety and legal reasons, Ylagan and his team will install seatbelts for the driver and the two passengers.
9) A winch helps move the ramp up and down.
The manual winch is one of the main features of this vehicle—it aids the driver in raising and lowering the metal door, which also serves as a ramp for wheelchairs. Ylagan opted for a manual winch to cut costs, although a hydraulic may also be installed.
10) Big decals matter.
Ylagan thought it would be best to come up with big and bold PWD decals for the exterior so that the rider can be given due courtesy and respect on the road.
Hey guys, what can you say about Ylagan’s latest creation? Puwede na o solid na puwede? Watch it in action below (or click here if you have trouble viewing the embedded video), and let us know your thoughts in the comments.
NOTE: This article first appeared on TopBikes.ph. Minor edits have been made.
