Sheffield tricycle scheme helps care home residents stay mobile

One of Margaret’s ‘pilots’ for the day was Clare Rishbeth.

“She said it felt breezy,” said Clare. “But of course that’s what it feels like on a bicycle or tricycle. Having the wind on your face and in your hair is a particular feeling that brings back memories for older people.”

Clare is the founder of Cycling Without Age (CWA) Sheffield, which launched last year as a volunteer run scheme using adapted tricycles to help people in care homes or other Sheffielders get out into the open air,

Around 100 people have taken part in CWA rides so far, thanks to a team of 15 trained volunteer pilots who in normal times arrive on the scheme’s electric assisted e-trike (named Rhubarb) at local care homes and then set out for a ride around city parks and green spaces with two passengers (often a carer or family member and an elderly person, or two friends from the home).

Rides had been taking place since March 2019 in Endcliffe Park, the General Cemetery and nearby until they had to stop, like everything else, in March, just when plans were afoot to expand, said Clare regretfully.

Cycling Without Age is an international organisation, and CWA Sheffield (one of only three schemes in Yorkshire) is celebrating a new team member this year after Rhubarb was joined by ‘Ginger’, a new e-trike given to the project thanks to government e-cycling funding won by Sheffield Council and Sheffield City Region.

“We wanted to do more than just invest in standard two wheel bikes, we wanted to be more inclusive, after all, cycling is for all,” said city council senior transport planner Paul Sullivan, who organised the new tricycle for CWA.

“Sheffield should be proud of its accessible cycle schemes, so it made sense we helped Cycling Without Age expand its excellent operation when we had the opportunity.”

The plan now is to expand CWA to Greenhill Park and nearby, and Clare is keen to find a home for Ginger in the Lowedges or Greenhill area.

Ginger will need a secure lockable outdoor building at least 2.5 by 1.5 metres, she said, noting that Ginger is slightly too wide for a normal house doorway. Community centres, sports clubs and people with an empty garage are all possibilities, she said - contact [email protected] if you can help.

And now after carrying out a full Covid check, CWA Sheffield is also offering try out rides from this Friday, for families or anyone who struggles to ride a normal bike, said Clare.

Pilots will wear masks and are positioned above the passengers, and riders must only take part with one person from their own household or bubble, and must be able to get into the trike without assistance from the pilot.

CWA will be at Endcliffe Park on Fridays from 10.30am and in Weston Park on Saturdays from 2.30pm. Places can also be pre-booked.

Clare works on landscape architecture at Sheffield University, and started the Sheffield CWA chapter after she’d been researching how older and less mobile people struggled to get the benefits of being outside for their mental health and wellbeing.

“I read about Cycling Without Age, and how it started in Denmark and spread to over 1,000 cities across the world, and thought we have such beautiful parks in Sheffield, and so many keen cyclists, that we ought to have it here!”

Clare has been looking at further areas in Sheffield with relatively flat parks, and sees no reason that the scheme shouldn’t expand in time, but says its unlikely the care home rides will return until next spring or later. But the Friday and Saturday rides could continue into the autumn if demand is there.

“The people on the trike have a great time, but that positive feeling gets spread out to passersby as they see other people having a good time. It’s a bit like seeing a steam train, you can’t help but smile!’

Oranganisers are hoping in the longer term to attract more volunteers and apply for additional funding to base tri-shaws at different locations around Sheffield and work with care homes across the city.

See cyclingwithoutage.org.uk/sheffield/ to find out more