Heard of the Alinker yet? Also known as the Alinka, it’s an innovative, non-motorised walking-bike designed to help people maintain an active lifestyle despite mobility challenges. The bike’s unique approach focuses on ability and wellness rather than disability, and it’s been touted as amazing by disability visibility activists like Selma Blair.
In this article, we tell you all about the Alinker and what makes it different from traditional mobility equipment. We also speak to Geelong-based speaker, author, businesses owner and coach Justine Martin, who’s an Alinker affiliate and fan.
In this article
What’s the Alinker / Alinka?
The Alinker / Alinka walking-bike is a special kind of bike designed to help people who have trouble walking. Unlike regular bikes, the Alinker doesn’t have pedals. Instead, it’s made for people to sit on and move forward by pushing with their feet. This bike looks a bit like a scooter but with a seat and three wheels, making it stable and easy to balance.
The cool thing about the Alinker is that it helps people stay active and move around easily, especially those who might have disabilities or health conditions that make walking difficult. It’s built to keep the user in an upright position, which means they can look forward and interact with others at eye level, making outings more enjoyable.
The idea behind the Alinker walking-bike is to support people in staying active and engaged in their communities, without feeling limited by mobility challenges. It’s all about focusing on what people can do and helping them maintain their independence and well-being.
Who invented it?
The Alinker was invented by Barbara Alink, a Dutch designer and architect. She created the Alinker with the vision of designing a mobility device that enhances the quality of life for people who have mobility challenges but want to maintain an active lifestyle.
Barbara was inspired to design a vehicle that would be so cool that it would transcend the stigma often associated with disability and mobility aids, focusing instead on ability and empowerment. Learn more about its development, here:
What makes the Alinker different?
The Alinker allows you to move in a way other mobility devices haven’t been able.
Before the Alinker, Justine Martin (queen of of resilience) was using a traditional walking frame (among other mobility devices). She has a damaged arm, and the vibration of trying to hold on to her walking frame would get very unconformable.
“With a walking frame, you also can’t lean your body weight onto it; it’s merely there to assist with balance,” she says. “Whereas with the Alinker, if I start to fall while out on a walk and begin to fatigue, I can apply the brakes, sit, and rest for a few minutes to let my body catch up.”
Justine mentions another unique factor about the Alinker – it looks ‘cooler’ than traditional walking devices.
“Let’s face it, walking frames aren’t the nicest looking things,” she says. The Alinker on the other hand, looks modern and streamlined.
It’s given Justine way more independence than she’s had before. She explains, “I put a basket on it and I can take it to the shops and put my handbag in it and everything else that I need. This includes my water bottle and I put my dachshund in it as well sometimes. It changes your quality of life.”
Easy fold functionality
Justine mentions the ease of taking the Alinker along when you’re travelling, saying “It folds up, so you can get it in your car or you can take it on a plane. With a lot of other mobility devices you know can’t transport them everywhere. They’ve been big and cumbersome.”
Justine says her scooter is two inches too big to put on the train.
“My wheelchair is actually now too big. When they put the motorized wheels on it, it’s too big to get in my car. Whereas this folds up conveniently or goes in the boot of the car. The wheels come off and it just folds in half.”
Want to try the Alinker?
Justine is an affiliate for the Alinker Alinka in Victoria, and offers free test drives at her company in Geelong to raise awareness and accessibility for this innovative mobility aid.
Additionally, she advocates for the Alinker in her public speaking engagements, sharing her story of resilience and recovery to inspire others facing similar challenges.
If you’d like to get an Alinker of your own, go to the Australian Alinker site.
Mobility technology resources
Technology is offering us more mobility assistance devices than ever before. Learn about more of them here:
- 5 Apps for People with Disability to Use Right Now
- Neuralink: What Is It and Can It Cure Paralysis and Blindness?
- The Latest Innovations in Assistive Technology Available Today
- Cyborg Limbs for Amputees – Elon Musk Announces Latest Vision
- Perry Cross Spinal Research Foundation Seeks a Cure for Paralysis
- Have You Tried These Fantastic Smartphone Accessibility Features?
Insurance for your Alinker walking-bike
Due to being manufactured in only one spot in the US and its unique patent, the Alinker / Alinka is an expensive piece of mobility equipment. If it were to be stolen or damaged, it could be a big challenge to replace if you’re paying out of pocket.
That’s why mobility equipment insurance is so important.
Blue Badge Insurance proudly offers insurance for the Alinker walking-bike. We also cover other mobility equipment, and offer wheelchair insurance and mobility scooter insurance. Your disability parking permit secures you impressive insurance discounts with Blue Badge. Like up to 25% off disability car insurance or car insurance for wheelchair accessible vehicles and disability converted cars. It also gets you up to 15% off pet insurance and 25% off Assistance Dog Insurance.
Why not get a quote today?
