Posted on June 17, 2025
What If a Bicycle Could Help Someone Walk Again? A Michigan Man Is Making It Happen
What if a bicycle could help someone walk again? That’s the question Ben Hogan, a prosthetist and former bike mechanic, set out to answer when he created a functional prosthetic leg made almost entirely from bicycle parts. His goal: to provide an open-source, low-cost solution for amputees in underserved communities around the world.
The idea was born from a chance encounter years ago, when an amputee walked into the bike shop where Hogan worked and casually showed him his prosthetic leg. That moment stuck with Hogan. “Eight to nine out of ten amputees globally don’t have access to a prosthesis,” he said. “But there are bicycles laying all over the planet. That could be configured and implemented in such a way to hopefully help that population.”
Hogan’s journey took him from the bike shop to a degree in orthotics and prosthetics, and eventually to Mary Free Bed Orthotics & Prosthetic + Bionics, where he now works. Along the way, he volunteered in Guatemala with the Range of Motion Project (ROMP), gaining firsthand insight into the global need for accessible prosthetic care. After years of tinkering with designs, he finally completed a working prototype—a lightweight, adjustable leg crafted from a bike frame, spokes, and even a wicker basket turned socket.
The project gained momentum when engineering students at Michigan State University, successfully replicated the design as part of their senior capstone project. Now, Hogan is preparing to present the Bike Leg at the ISPO Global Symposium in Sweden this June. “It’s like a thought that won’t leave you alone,” he said. “My real smile will happen when somebody in some far-off place walk with it and I get to see a video of that.”
To learn more or access the open-source materials, visit projectbikeleg.com.
MEDIA COVERAGE:
WZZM 13: Michigan man aims for global shift with bicycle-based prosthetics
