Canmore senior citizens are ready to get rolling with the community’s newest social program, Cycling Without Age.
Town of Canmore Family and Community Support Services coordinator Lu Douce was inspired by the original Danish Cycling Without Age program and reached out to its founder to bring it to the community.
Douce said the program officially begins next Tuesday (June 28), as volunteer drivers have been recruited and trained and seniors are ready to roll.
She said the hope is that by getting seniors who have mobility issues out for bike rides they will be able to experience their community again in a way they may have thought was not possible any more – with the wind in their hair.
“Cycling Without Age would not have been possible without the support of many community partnerships, agencies, organizations, businesses and individuals,” Douce said. “It has been overwhelming seeing the community response and support for the program.”
Cycling Without Age will run three days a week with the two tri-shaws being split between FCSS, Bow River Seniors Lodge, Golden Eagle View extended care wing at the Canmore Hospital and Origin at Spring Creek. Douce said seniors with mobility issues who still live at home are able to sign up for the program as well as residents of the lodge, Origin and hospital.
Councillor Joanna McCallum applauded the work of the local FCSS department at bringing Cycling Without Age to Canmore and managing the program.
“They work really hard to take care of our seniors and people in Canmore; it is their imagination and horsepower that makes these things happen,” McCallum said.
Organizers said they have had overwhelming support from volunteers who have signed up to pilot the tri-shaw electric assist bikes as well. Douce said the goal of the program includes creating relationships and connections between seniors and volunteer drivers.
“It is about the relationships that develop between the volunteer pilot and the seniors themselves, and getting them out in the community,” she said.
Dan Seto is one of those who have volunteered to pilot the bikes. He said he has been involved in everything cycling since the early ’80s and was keen to get involved.
“When I saw this, I liked the idea of the electric technology,” he said. “It is pretty cool actually.”
Seto was on hand Monday (June 20) when residents of the Bow River Seniors Lodge were able to try the bikes out for the first time. He said there is a real connection between the pilot and the passenger as they take a ride around town.
Resident Renate Brockmeyer said the bikes are “very cool, interesting and safe. We had fun and I made lots of pictures of the surrounding mountains. It is a new thing, but it is perfect.”
