Cycling Without Age (for all abilities)
One of the things that I cherish about Rockingham, and what made me decide to live and raise a child here, is the gentle community- and family-vibe I felt when walking along, or driving by, Rockingham foreshore. Another thing was the sense of health and vitality I felt from the people that I passed. And though there are many toned, strong and youthful bodies about, I don’t believe this health and vitality belongs solely to the young and fully abled. Neither does Cycling Without Age, Rockingham.
A few weeks ago, as my son and I were walking up to Churchill Park after visiting Jaffelato, we saw a pair of smiling men lounging back on two beach chairs, in front of 2 three-wheeled bicycles — trishaws. They called out to us and asked if we would like a ride. ‘Maybe!’, I said, intrigued. They explained to me that they were offering free rides, and they said that anyone could access them, but their signage also explained that these were for seniors and people living with disability. These men were a part of the 25 ‘pilots’, as the volunteer cyclists are called.
In fact, all people involved with helping to run Cycling Without Age are volunteers. Along with the 25 pilots, there are 6 committee members; some of these volunteers are doing both roles.
One such volunteer is Diane Webb, their Volunteer and Events Coordinator, who generously took some time out to talk with me on Easter Sunday evening. Actually, given that Diane has volunteered with different organisations for the last 16 years, including Meals on Wheels and the Rockingham Connect bus, I’d say that she is a generous person overall. When the Rockingham Connect bus stopped during the Covid pandemic 2 and a half, maybe 3 years ago, she saw a post on Facebook requesting more volunteers, and signed up. Then 18 months ago, Diane Wall came on board as the Community Captain. Diane and Deb are the ones to contact to book a ride.
Rides are available Mondays and Fridays, 9:30am to 11:30am, from Churchill Park, at the end of Railway Terrace (the grassy spot near the big anchor), open to anyone, no booking necessary. But the trishaws are also available for bookings — contact Diane or Deb via their Facebook page — on the days in between, and are often booked by nursing homes or support workers for their clients. All rides are freely given. As the global website states:
‘The bike rides are free of charge. Our mission is to build bridges between generations and help prevent loneliness: we provide the elderly people an opportunity to avoid social isolation and remain active in their community by taking them out on bike rides and allow them to feel the wind in their hair!’
And whilst the website mentions elderly people particularly, the Rockingham chapter actually raised the funds last year, via sponsorship and grants, to buy a purpose-built trishaw designed to take wheelchairs! There are 4 trishaws in total now: 2 other trishaws fundraised for last year, and the original trishaw they started with, in 2019. A special mention to John Chatfield who founded Cycling Without Age, Rockingham, and Gemma Heaney, who Diana describes as a ‘…Rockingham businesswoman who put together a sponsorship’ to buy the first bike.
“The human heart is too grand to be wasted in the gutter of cultural exclusivity.”
— Abhijit Naskar (Neuroscientist and poet)
I don’t know about you, but I am passionate about being involved in creating a world where accessibility is the norm. And obviously, Cycling Without Age is, too.
You can read more about the history of Cycling Without Age and watch the TED talk by its founder, Ole Kassow, here.
