From Hanging Up the Helmet to Engineering a New Way to Ride
For decades, Portage-based rider and engineer Mark Jozwicki found freedom on two wheels—until nerve damage in his hand made conventional motorcycling unsafe. Faced with the prospect of giving up the “wind therapy” he loved, he retired from engineering and set himself a new brief: design a way to recapture the feeling of motorcycle riding without relying on full hand strength or perfect balance. That challenge became the Personal Terrain Vehicle, or PTV, a three-wheeled machine developed specifically for people with disabilities or mobility restrictions. Instead of walking away from riding, Jozwicki treated his limitation as a design problem. Over four years, he refined the concept, navigated street-legal certification, and secured utility and design patents, working toward a mobility friendly motorcycle-style platform that lets more riders stay in the saddle rather than step aside.
What Is the Personal Terrain Vehicle—and How Does It Feel to Ride?
Jozwicki’s Personal Terrain Vehicle is a compact, three-wheeled machine powered by a 125 cc engine, capable of speeds up to about 40 mph. Designed to be ridden both on and off the road, it aims to replicate the sensations of motorcycle riding—lean, exposure to the elements, and responsive controls—while adding stability and accessibility. Unlike a conventional ATV or bulky trike, the PTV strives to preserve that agile, motorcycle-like connection to the terrain, with the rider still very much "in" the experience rather than isolated from it. Test riders describe the result as liberating, a balance of adrenaline and security that feels closer to a traditional bike than to a mobility scooter. Crucially, the PTV has achieved street-legal status, opening the door for real-world adaptive motorcycle riding instead of limiting riders to controlled environments or private land.
Designed With Disabled Riders, Not Just for Them
To make the PTV a true motorcycle for disabled riders, Jozwicki did more than rely on his own assumptions. Acknowledging that he is not disabled himself, he partnered with Disability Network Southwest Michigan to collect detailed feedback on seating, controls, and stability. The result is a layout that prioritizes secure seating and intuitive, low-effort controls, tailored to people with limited strength, balance, or coordination. The three-wheel stance adds inherent stability over a two-wheeler, reducing the risk of tip-overs at low speed while still providing a dynamic ride. Riders like Jerry Albertson, who lives with multiple sclerosis and ordinarily uses an electric scooter, report feeling both safe and in control on the PTV, yet still immersed in the sensations they remember from past motorcycles—a strong sign that accessible powersports gear can deliver excitement without sacrificing security.
Who the PTV Helps: From Disabled Riders to Aging Enthusiasts
Although conceived as a mobility friendly motorcycle alternative, the Personal Terrain Vehicle has attracted interest from a broad spectrum of riders. People with disabilities or chronic conditions such as multiple sclerosis can use the PTV to reclaim the motorcycle experience after switching to wheelchairs or scooters for everyday mobility. Older riders facing balance issues or reduced strength see it as a way to extend their riding years without moving to full-size trikes that often feel disconnected from the road. Even riders without disabilities have enjoyed the PTV as a fun, confidence-inspiring three-wheeler. That cross-over appeal matters: it normalizes adaptive motorcycle riding and helps ensure that accessibility does not mean compromise or stigma. Instead, it positions the PTV as a legitimate powersports option whose design just happens to include more people by default.
The Growing Niche of Adaptive Powersports—and What Must Change Next
Jozwicki’s PTV arrives as part of a broader shift toward accessible powersports gear and mobility friendly motorcycles. Mainstream bikes like Honda’s Shadow platform show how ergonomics, predictable handling, and confidence-inspiring controls can make riding more accessible in general, but they still assume relatively able-bodied riders. Adaptive designs such as the PTV go further, building stability, low-effort operation, and inclusive ergonomics into the concept from day one. To fully realize this emerging niche, more manufacturers will need to treat disability as a key design parameter rather than an aftermarket problem. Regulations must also evolve to recognize innovative platforms like three-wheel personal terrain vehicles and create clear, supportive paths to street legality. Jozwicki hopes to partner with a university to move his design into production, but his larger legacy may be proving that adaptive motorcycle riding can be thrilling, not merely functional.