Start a Cycling Without Age chapter to give older adults the joy of outdoor adventures through specially designed trishaw rides, creating meaningful connections between generations whilst combating loneliness and social isolation.
Cycling Without Age began in Copenhagen in 2012 when co-founder Ole Kassow offered a ride to a care home resident. The movement has since grown to include 33,000 volunteers across 50 countries providing daily rides in their communities.
Research by psychologist Susan Pinker identifies solitary living as the primary impediment to longevity and quality of life. Australian researchers Catherine and Alex Haslam found that people with active social lives recover faster from illness and maintain memories longer. The movement's five core principles are Storytelling, Generosity, Slowness, Without Age, and Relationships.
The specially designed trishaws are manufactured by Copenhagen Cycles, working with approved suppliers including Nihola and trioBike. A dedicated North American supplier is also available. Each chapter receives support from experienced instructors who help plan launch events based on best practices from over 200 worldwide takeoffs.
The organisation operates like a wheel: the Copenhagen hub contains the dream and guiding principles, whilst the "tyre" represents local chapters where rides, pilots, passengers, and community interaction create the real impact.
Getting started with a Cycling Without Age chapter is an amazing experience. Nothing beats witnessing the joy of the elderly, pilots and nursing home staff interact on and around the trishaw and seeing the smiles of passengers coming back from their first ride with wind in their hair, rosy cheeks and full of stories.
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