A Danish grassroots movement called Cycling Without Age has crossed the Atlantic and made it to Golden.
The program, which is now available in more than 30 countries, provides seniors with the opportunity to experience their communities on a specialized bike called a trishaw.
A trishaw is a modified version of a rickshaw, the passenger bike popularized in Asia. The main difference between trishaws and rikshaws is the passenger carriage which is on the front of trishaws but is typically on the back of rickshaws.
The Golden chapter of Cycling Without Age Canada was established to fulfill the vision that “every Canadian should have the opportunity to feel the wind in their hair.”
The program has two trishaw bikes in Golden which are powered by a cyclist known as a pilot. The bikes were purchased through the assistance of the Columbia Basin Trust’s community initiatives grant, the Rotary Club of Golden and the Town of Golden.
The organization currently has “a full complement of volunteer pilots” who are trained to serve guests this summer. Community members who are interested in volunteering as pilots can contact cyclinggolden@gmail.com to become involved in the future.
Seniors interested in enjoying a ride can sign up through their seniors’ facility or Better at Home program. Seniors who do not live in a care facility can contact cyclinggolden@gmail.com with the subject line “CWA” to express their interest in going for a ride.
Passengers are required to complete an application to assess their suitability for a ride and waivers must be signed before the trip. Passengers must also be able to get in and out of the trishaw with limited assistance.
Trishaw rides from Cycling Without Age are meant to be recreational and are not intended to be used to complete errands or travel between appointments.
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