Trishaw gets the elderly out of home and on the road

It began as a small gesture of kindness in 2012 when Ole Kassow began taking elderly people on bike rides around Copenhagen. Now an international movement, Cycling without Age is getting ready to launch in the Colour City following the arrival of a new trishaw e-bike.

“It's very comfortable, it's electric-assisted. And the reason this bike was chosen by Cycling Without Age, is because of its comfort and its safety levels and its ability to hold two people in the front box,” Cycling Without Age Orange secretary, Michelle Englart said of the $17,000 e-bike.

“So the idea is to be able to take people with reduced mobility into the outdoors, many people don't have that opportunity. So, we'll be taking people from aged care facilities, and potentially some younger people who have limited mobility…. give people the opportunity to be outdoors, to be included in society, to be seen as a normal part of society,” she continued.

“The more we see older people or people with disabilities out and about, just taking part in life, the better it is for the rest of the society as well.”

The local group was formed 12 months ago and has been raising money to purchase a trishaw, trailer and a container to store it in. They were able to finally purchase a trishaw a few months ago thanks to a large donation from Cadia and a NSW Government grant.

With the bike now in hand, the group are organising ‘pilot training’ for volunteer raiders and  making sure the routes they’ve chosen are safe and suitable for their passengers.

“So we need to do training and assess the risks and those things,” Michelle said. “And we plan to have probably half a dozen different routes around Orange so there's variety and we have quite a merry band of volunteers who will be piloting.”

Cycling Without Age Orange have been contacting local aged care homes to let them know about the program and to show off their new trishaw to residents.

Michelle said they are still weeks away from being able to take passengers, but she believes it's a program that will really improve the lives of both the passengers and volunteers.

“I think that just knowing there's someone out there who's happy to spend some time with you and to help you to be part of the community… I think it's going to be nice and make a difference, give people some joy,” she said.

Cycling Without Age Orange are already fundraising to purchase a second trishaw.