This column is written as correspondence between Byron the Bicyclist and Patty the Pedestrian
Dear Patty the Pedestrian. Back in the 1980’s I travelled in northern India. One unique transportation option was a bicycle rickshaw.
Today there is an electric assist version called a trishaw with the bench seat in front. In Scotland and Denmark, many seniors’ homes own and operate trishaws for their residents. Today, there are an estimated 16,000 electric assist trishaws worldwide. One version of the trishaw can accommodate a single wheelchair.
“I feel alive,” said one senior as she was coming back from a ride of fresh air and sunshine.
One man who suffered dementia, spoke excitedly after his trishaw ride. Until the ride, he had not spoken for some time, according to the seniors’ home staff. (bccycling.ca/podcast, Season 2, episode 10)
Jennifer Reid, co-founder of Vancouver Cycling Without Age Society states there is something about having fresh air blowing through your hair that makes the difference.
In B.C. there are fourteen Cycling Without Age chapters operating. One of them is in Fernie which has a similar climate to ours; it’s trishaw has studded tires for the snow.
The Vancouver chapter operates six trishaws serving 12 partner facilities. They organize volunteers to drive the seniors on outings.
Jennifer Reid states the cost of a trishaw is about $25,000. including insurance, maintenance and storage. (The width of the trishaw doesn’t allow it to go through a regular door.) Operating costs are funded by service agreements with the seniors’ facilities.
Do you think this might be a good idea for Williams Lake, Patty?
Signed; Byron the Bicyclist
Dear Byron.
Until you wrote me this, I didn’t know anything about battery assisted trishaws! For people who can’t get out much, it seems like a great idea.
Signed; Patty the Pedestrian
Bert Groenenberg is a pedestrian, cyclist and motorist.
