Inventor Launched Project Bike Leg for Prosthetics

Ben Hogan created affordable, bicycle-part prosthetic limbs to aid those without access to traditional medical devices.

Updated on Oct. 6, 2026 in Golf

A prosthetic limb assembled from bicycle parts like spokes and rubber treads, sitting on a wooden workbench in natural light. — Inventor Ben Hogan has launched Project Bike Leg, an initiative utilizing discarded bicycle parts to create functional, affordable prosthetic limbs for amputees worldwide. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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In the summer of 2024, Ben Hogan officially launched Project Bike Leg, an initiative repurposing discarded bicycle parts into functional prosthetic limbs. The design, which utilizes over 95% repurposed materials, aims to provide an affordable alternative for the estimated 30 to 40 million people globally who need prosthetic legs.

Why it matters

World Health Organisation estimates suggest that up to 90% of amputees worldwide currently lack access to proper prosthetic care. By refusing to patent his designs and offering free instructions online, Hogan hopes to bridge this critical healthcare gap in developing nations.

The prosthetic design is composed of over 95% bicycle parts, including tyre treads and spokes, compared to the $70,000 cost of a standard medical prosthesis. Hogan spent 9 days in Ghana training local students to construct these devices.

The players

Ben Hogan

He is the founder of Project Bike Leg who develops open-source prosthetic designs using scavenged bicycle parts.

World Health Organisation

This is the specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for international public health.

The details

The prosthetic foot is built using a bicycle seat, wheel strips, and tyre treads secured by spokes, while the socket is fashioned from locally sourced wicker. Hogan, who designed his first below-the-knee model in 2013, later expanded his work by creating an above-the-knee model in 2025.

Ben Hogan crafted his first below-the-knee prosthesis model in 2013.
Project Bike Leg was officially founded in the summer of 2024.
Hogan designed an above-the-knee prosthetic model in 2025.

Season Trajectory

This initiative follows the pattern set by the 2013 introduction of 3D-printed open-source prosthetics by prioritizing accessibility over proprietary commercialization. It highlights a growing shift toward grassroots engineering to solve global health disparities.

The open-source nature of the project allows anyone with basic mechanical skills to construct a functional limb for a fraction of traditional medical costs. These designs provide a tangible, low-cost alternative for individuals currently priced out of the global prosthetics market.

The takeaway

By leveraging widely available bicycle components, Hogan has demonstrated that essential healthcare solutions can be developed through simple, accessible engineering. His refusal to patent the technology underscores a commitment to humanitarian impact over individual profit.