Cycling Without Age puts wind in the hair of seniors in Goderich
- Kate Smith
- 2 hours ago
- 4 min read
Cycling Without Age is a volunteer organization that has been providing unique rides to seniors around Goderich on a three-wheeled e-bike trishaw.
Gerry O’Brien and his wife began the program in Goderich and the local chapter has now been running for three years.
O’Brien explained that reception of the bike rides has been warmly welcomed by seniors and senior residences in Goderich.
Now, CWA is seeking more volunteers, attempting to recruit more ‘pilots’ to take seniors around town to experience the wind in their hair in a safe environment.
Pilots must complete a one-hour training session with the trishaw. According to O’Brien, the key is the battery assist that allows even slight pilots to move, almost effortlessly, bringing the two passengers down any street in town.
Scheduling is done through an app called Signup Genius, allowing pilots to sign up for any scheduled ride out of one of the retirement homes by simply clicking on a time they desire.
Weather is rarely a problem since the bike is equipped with a rain and sun canopy and a warm blanket for the passengers.
According to O’Brien, this year the Goderich chapter is also promoting the idea of pick-ups at private residences.
“We would like to train any family member who has a loved one at home so that they can use the bike for a private ride,” O’Brien explained.
“Even if this is the only ride they do for CWA, it could be a great service to someone in need of wind in their hair.”
Volunteers (pilots) sign up for bike rides as often or as rarely as they want to, and the program is driven by people’s own motivation.
At present, more than 3,050-chapter locations around the world offer Cycling Without Age from well over 4,900 trishaws, and one of those chapters is right here in Goderich.
CWA first began in Denmark and there are now over 3,000 chapters worldwide.
CWA is a movement started in 2012 by Ole Kassow in Denmark, who wanted to help his neighbours at the local nursing home get back on their bicycles, but he had to find a solution to their limited mobility.
Kassow’s answer was a trishaw, and he started offering free bike rides to residents of a local nursing home.
Kassow grew up with a father who used a wheelchair, so he knew firsthand what the lack of mobility lead to in terms of stigma and isolation.
O’Brien’s first experience with CWA was in Invermere, B.C. where he came across the bike and pilot at a local retirement home.
“My immediate thought was how much my own mother would have enjoyed the rides,” admitted O’Brien.
His mother passed away at Maitland Manor several years before O’Brien was aware of CWA, but he knew that the community and its seniors would benefit from such a program.
When he and his wife Lorraine (originally from Montreal) decided to move back to Goderich after 45 years, one of their first tasks was to order a battery assisted trishaw from CWA in Copenhagen. It was then O’Brien set up the CWA chapter in Goderich.
“We donated the bike to the town and they in turn cover the insurance and help with a yearly stipend to promote and maintain the program,” explained O’Brien.
The success of the CWA program in Goderich, is that it gives back so much to both volunteers and recipients.
Passengers enjoy getting outside, seeing what’s going on in the community, and visit with people they encounter on their ride.
“Everyone we meet on the road gives a wave and a big smile as we ride by,” O’Brien said.
The motto of CWA is ‘The right to wind in your hair’, and the passengers mood reflects this enjoyment according to O’Brien.
The flat, quiet streets, lake vistas and friendly community make Goderich the perfect location for this program.
As the Goderich chapter is on its annual pilot recruitment drive, posters will be putt up around town and O’Brien will be visiting the high school to promote the program.
Most of the program’s dozen pilots are either seniors themselves or close to it, and O’Brien hopes to attract some younger pilots who would benefit and enjoy the program, adding an aspect to the rides that is currently missing.
Trained pilots ensure that seniors in the community get out of their nursing homes, get out on the bikes and enjoy the fresh air and community around them.
The rides generally start at one of the local retirement homes – Goderich Place, Harbour Hills and Maitland Manor, and last for about an hour.
“The staff at the homes have been extremely welcoming and helpful in making the program run smoothly,” O’Brien said.
“Their help in loading and scheduling allows the pilots to concentrate on the ride and enjoying the company.”
Although the original bike is still working fine, in time it may need major maintenance and possibly replacement.
“We hope that when that time comes that Goderich residents and service clubs will recognize the value of the program and help us keep it running,” admitted O’Brien.
Additionally, the Goderich chapter is adjusting to the recent move of the Maitland Manor to its new location on Highway 21 south.
Getting to the new location is currently an issue, but O’Brien is hoping to find a solution through the Active Transportation goals set out by the Town of Goderich.
“Starting this chapter of CWA has helped Lorraine and I feel like part of the community, meet new people, learn the old stories and show that we are dedicated to our new home,” remarked O’Brien.
For those interested in volunteering with CWA or for more information, please email O’Brien at obriengerry57@gmail.com
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