Do you remember going for bike rides when you were younger?
I don’t know about you, but much of my childhood was spent pedaling hard on a two-wheeler with a tight grip on the handlebars and my eyes tearing gloriously from the wind whipping past my face as I burned rubber around the neighborhood. It was always a rush, and I lived for it.
As I’ve gotten older, however, I’ve found myself less and less inclined to hop on a bicycle, but having the ability to do so whenever we want is a luxury that many of us might take for granted.
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Old age can bring with it a significant decrease in mobility, making something like taking a bike ride almost entirely impossible.
And even if a bike ride isn’t the goal, something as simple as visiting a park or getting out to enjoy nature can become difficult without being able to get around on your own.
But thanks to some kindhearted volunteers, many senior citizens are being given the chance to feel the breeze on their face and enjoy a pleasant ride through nature once again.
“Cycling Without Age” is a program that helps elderly people get back on a bike and out enjoying the beauty of nature.
But this time around, there’s a bit of a twist — instead of pedaling themselves, they’re passengers on a rickshaw, pedaled by passionate volunteers who are ready and happy to take them anywhere they want to go.
It all started back in 2012 when Denmark native Ole Kassow was trying to figure out a way to help the elderly enjoy bicycle rides again.
As explained on the program’s website , he had to find some kind of a solution to their limited mobility, which ultimately led him to using rickshaws.
Kassow began by taking some elderly residents from a local nursing home out on the trails himself, pedaling the four-wheeled vehicle with one or two passengers seated comfortably in front of him.
Now, his small acts of kindness have blossomed into an entire program that’s reached more than 38 countries.
“We dream of creating a world together, in which the access to active citizenship creates happiness among our fellow elderly citizens by providing them with an opportunity to remain an active part of society and the local community,” Kassow explained .
The volunteers who pedal these rickshaws have to go through some training before they take anyone out for a ride.
After all, there’s a pretty big difference between simply riding a bike and riding one with people sitting out front of it.
Volunteers are first trained to pilot empty rickshaws . After they’ve mastered this, they’re able to take passengers for a spin. Volunteers are encouraged to drive slowly so those riding in their rickshaw can enjoy the environment and “be present in the moment.”
Unsurprisingly, this program has become a huge hit with senior citizens all around the world.
And for good reason, too. It provides an incredibly valuable service to those who might not otherwise be able to get out and enjoy nature themselves. They can feel the wind in their hair as they delight in taking a carefree ride through the trees, just like they used to when they were younger.
As of right now, there are 1,600 chapter locations around the world, with 2,500 rickshaws in service and more than 29,000 eager volunteers signed up and ready to take senior citizens out of their nursing homes and on a wonderful ride.
