Last month, Fingal County Council announced the launch of Cycling without Age Fingal, which encourages older people in the community to enjoy the benefits of cycling. It’s the latest extension of a project first founded in Denmark back in 2012, beginning a much-loved practice of offering trishaws to local nursing home residents.
With the north county Dublin project fresh in the minds, it’s as good a time as any to take a look at the local Cycling without Age groups across Ireland – and how the initiative works to promote social engagement. And, we’ve put together some recommendations for seniors who are looking to get on their bike, so people of all ages can enjoy cycling in a safe and enjoyable way!
Local community led groups
There are over 30 local groups across Ireland offering support and specially adapted trishaws to communities, from Co. Louth to Co. Cork and across the breadth of the country too. As a voluntary grassroots movement, trishaws are provided to care homes for free of charge, so everyone can experience that feeling of having the wind in their hair.
Many people who have experienced the scheme first-hand have said the best part of the initiative is the sense of freedom – and, with the launch of Cycling without Age Fingal, it’s clear there’s a desire to see those benefits reach as many people as possible. A network of over 37 trishaws now operates throughout local groups across the country; with luck, that number will continue to grow in the years to come.
Cycling without Age Fingal has introduced three proposed locations where trishaws will be accessible – Skerries, Baldoyle/Portmarnock Greenway and St. Catherine’s Park. If you’re interested in learning more, visit the dedicated webpage.
The Rolls-Royce of trishaws
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If you’re wondering what a Cycling without Age Trishaw is like – well look no further! There are a number of different trishaw models offered by Cycling without Age, but The Chat by Van Raam has been hailed as the Rolls-Royce of trishaws due to its comfortable design and advanced control capabilities.
The Chat is a premium trishaw designed and manufactured by Van Raam, who have been manufacturing trishaws in The Netherlands for over 40 years. It also features a reverse gear so pilots can quickly and easily backtrack, making manoeuvers that little bit easier!
Corporate social responsibility
Becoming more and more visible within the business community with each passing day, corporate social responsibility (CSR) is defined as the ‘responsibility of enterprises for their impacts on society’ – which in simple terms means that businesses should have in place ways and means to help out on projects that benefit the wider community. Cycling without Age fits this profile due to its sponsorship set up, where companies can sponsor bikes for inclusion in the programme.
To date, Healthy Ireland has sponsored 12 trishaws via local sports partnerships and councils, in addition to several other trishaws which have been sponsored by various other corporations across the island.
Pilots also play an integral part within the programme, as volunteers are sought to ride the trishaws and give back to the local community. Cycling without Age has pilots who come from all walks of life, including business directors and students, and they’re all supported through a principle-based pilot training programme.
This emphasis on CSR is a tried and tested model which has worked well for Cycling without Age chapters across the world, and continues to promote engagement between businesses and charities.
Cycling in a safe and enjoyable way
Whilst trishaws are designed for those who are unable to cycle in the conventional manner, perhaps you’re still able to jump on the saddle. There are more seniors cycling on Irish roads than ever before, with the average length (kms) of cycling journeys for over 75s reaching an impressive 10km. We’ve put together some recommendations on how seniors can enjoy cycling in a safe and enjoyable way:
Try an electric bike
Whilst electric bikes can be more expensive than their traditional counterparts, an electric bike is a fantastic investment because it adds that much needed boost when cycling up hilly terrain. Check out our focus on Bolt to see why their rental e-bike offerings are causing a storm!
Get plenty of high quality sleep
Muscle recovery is particularly essential for older cyclists, so be sure to indulge in a warm bath with Epsom salts as it’s good for you! However, nothing can beat the health benefits of a good quality sleep, so be sure to get your shut-eye. We’ve put together some tips to help you sleep better – to help both on and off the bike.
Stay connected
Why not utilise cycling to stay connected with friends, family and like-minded individuals? Combining exercise with socialisation can help to prevent age-related cognitive decline, as well as improving happiness and self-confidence .
Want to learn more? Take a look at why it’s never too late to start cycling and reap the fantastic health benefits it provides.
