An Airbag in a Backpack: As Cities Add Bike Lanes This Gadget May Prove to be a Lifesaver

The global pandemic which began in 2020 has pushed people off of mass transit in urban centres and accelerated the use of bicycles. Here in Toronto, the virus changed commuter habits. Bike-sharing programs increased dramatically. Commuters who were afraid of exposure to the coronavirus using the subway, buses and streetcars, sought alternatives. And rather than automatically switching to automobiles and creating “Carmageddon” on city streets, bicycle use has soared. And with the boom in riders, many with little experience, accidents are on the rise.

Enter EVOC Sports, a maker of backpacks that has produced the first one for cyclists that integrates airbag technology. Called the COMMUTE AIR PRO 18, it is a smart backpack with a built-in rechargeable sensor that activates when first strapped on. The sensor continuously analyzes the position of the cyclist 1,100 times per second. If it detects a fall or collision, that alters the rider’s position (not a dismount) it triggers the airbag to inflate in 0.2 seconds reducing the acceleration force of the cyclist by as much as 80%. It is designed to minimize back and head injuries. After deployment, the airbag can be refolded and placed back in the backpack but the igniter, a CO2 cartridge, needs to be replaced. EVOC Sports offers the backpack with a replacement plan and warranty should there be any damage to it.

In every other way, the COMMUTE AIR PRO 18 is a conventional backpack. It is made from recycled polyester and has pockets for a laptop, cell phone, glasses and other paraphernalia, and includes an elastic side pocket for storing a water bottle.

An additional feature, the removable back protector, is designed to provide shielding for the rider’s spine should an impact with an object or the ground occur. EVOC Sports provides an additional warranty on the back protector should it be damaged in an accident and will automatically replace it.

Here are some of the gadget’s other specifications:

• Airbag volume of 18 litres (0.635 cubic feet).
• Full inflation within 200 milliseconds after triggering.
• The maximum internal pressure of the airbags is 0.4 bars (equivalent to 5.8 pounds per square inch)
• The pressure effect maximizes in 5 seconds and lasts up to 10 before the airbag begins to deflate.
• The sensor has a 32-hour battery life and is fully rechargeable.
• The operational temperature range is from 0 to 40+ Celsius (32 to 104 Fahrenheit).
• The sensor is activated by an electronic magnetic buckle attached to a strap worn around the waist. When unsnapped the rider can bend to lock up the bicycle without fear of accidentally deploying the airbag.

The backpack will go on sale in 2022 and will be priced at over $1,000 USD. It would seem a lot of money for a backpack, but with so many bicycle riders today on the road competing with automobiles and trucks, investing in this gadget could save a cyclist from significant injury or even save the person’s life.

EVOC Sports is Munich-based and is considered the world market leader for backpacks with back protectors. With this new gadget, the company should maintain its leadership in this market niche.