Cycling Without Age Williamsburg - Bringing Outdoor Experiences to Seniors & People with Limited Mobility
Providing outdoor cycling experiences and connecting people with nature are just two of the reasons, Rick Nevins is passionate about Cycling Without Age Williamsburg. Watching seniors get excited about the trees or spotting a deer or turkey sighting along the Trail is a rewarding feeling. On the rides, people will sit back and watch the trees go by. The slower pace allows people to really enjoy their time in the outdoors, shares Nevins.
“I think for me, it was the idea that I know how much enjoyment I get out of cycling, the freedom and being outdoors, and you figure for these older folks that no longer have the mobility or onset dementia, should also have the chance to experience that joy.” - Rick Nevins
Cycling Without Age is an international program that began in 2012 in Copenhagen, Denmark. Ole Kassow started the program as a way to help seniors get back on their bicycles. The program has spread to include 53 countries and now, thanks to Cycling Without Age Williamsburg (a partnership between the Williamsburg Area Bicyclists and BikeWalk Williamsburg) includes scenic rides on the Virginia Capital Trail! Cycling Without Age’s mission is simple. They believe that everyone has "the right to wind in your hair".
Under the determination and guidance of Mark Holt and Rick Nevins, Cycling Without Age Williamsburg launched in the Spring of 2018 with the goal to bring the love of cycling and outdoor experiences to seniors and people facing mobility challenges. Within their first year, they had over 40 trained volunteer pilots and one trishaw available. Now they have two trishaws but fewer volunteers as a lingering result of COVID.
This volunteer-led program offers FREE rides on the Capital Trail, starting and ending at Spoke and Art, the Jamestown Island tour roadway, and Colonial Williamsburg. A trained pilot operates the trishaw (similar to a rickshaw) that enables the passengers to comfortably sit on a bench seat. They work with seven different retirement communities in the Williamsburg area but are also available to anyone in the community who otherwise would not have the mobility to experience cycling themselves. Each ride lasts approximately 30 minutes, usually involves some fun wildlife sightings, and can accompany two people at a time (max total weight of 350).
Here are some comments from recent riders:
“I cannot think of a better way than this to spend quality time in the great outdoors.”
“Saw jumping deer and Canadian geese!”
“Beautiful ride, beautiful day. Even saw a deer duck back into the woods. Got some nice pictures. Beautiful ride, pilot very good, enjoyed the cool breeze and scenery.”
”Awesome! What a special treat for seniors. A beautiful ride on a 90 degree day. Keep trying to expand the options. Thanks so much for you time to give seniors like me a very special experience!”
Do you have a friend or relative who would like to experience happiness on wheels? Would you like to learn more about how you can attend a training session and become a volunteer pilot? Email Rick at rbnevins@gmail.com for more information.
Additional Resources
Cycling Without Age website - https://cwa-williamsburg.org
Williamsburg Area Bicyclists - www.wabonline.org
BikeWalk Williamsburg - bikewalkwilliamsburg.org
Youtube Video - https://youtu.be/Uv5vWFMvDVE
