# Double-Action Wheelchairs The Urban Wheelchair by Ben Thorpe is for City-Dwellers By Meghan Young | Published 2010-03-13 | Art & Design Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/urban-wheelchair References: [thedesignblog.org](http://www.thedesignblog.org/entry/electric-urban-wheelchair-moves-on-hubless-wheels/) & [benthorpedesign](http://www.benthorpedesign.com/portfolio/urban-wheelchair/) Unlike many creations for the [disabled and injured](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mobility-rehabilitation) that merely contain their user, The Urban Wheelchair features an empowering mentality to its design. Designed by Ben Thorpe, the Urban Wheelchair provides as much freedom as is possible. Hoisting its user into an upright position, it enables a person to perform [daily activities](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/urban-furniture-concept) that are usually out of reach. See more [innovative wheelchairs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/manual-wheelchair) below. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 2.7/10 - Popularity: 42% | Activity: 32% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe, Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/artdesign) > [Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/design) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Empowering Design:** The Urban Wheelchair features an empowering mentality to its design. - **Increased Freedom:** The Urban Wheelchair provides as much freedom as possible. - **Upright Accessibility:** Hoisting its user into an upright position, the Urban Wheelchair enables a person to perform daily activities that are usually out of reach. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Assistive Technology:** Opportunity for disruptive innovation in creating empowering designs for people with disabilities. - **Mobility Solutions:** Chance for disruptive innovation in developing wheelchairs that provide increased freedom and accessibility. - **Urban Living:** Potential for disruptive innovation in designing products that cater to the specific needs of city-dwellers with limited mobility. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Luxury Discrete Wheelchair Designs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/discrete-wheelchair.md) - [Modified Wheelchair Designs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/leaning-wheelchair.md) - [Modular Powered Wheelchair Designs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/wheelchair-hand-cycle.md) - [Sleek Robotic Wheelchair Designs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/robotic-wheelchair.md) - [Robotic Movement-Interpreting Wheelchairs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/honda-unione.md) - [Luxe Lounge Motorized Wheelchairs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-resilience.md) - [Transformable Lightweight Wheelchairs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/wheeliy.md) - [Two-in-One Senior Mobility Solutions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/selfdriving-wheelchair.md) - [Semi-Outdoor Foldable Wheelchairs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/robooter.md)