New organization in Orleans will give senior citizens bike rides

Cycling Without Age uses 3-wheeled bike to go at slow and steady pace

Photos by Tom Rivers: Susan Walders rides a tri-shaw bike down the sidewalk along East Avenue on Saturday. She practicing as a “pilot” with the new bike. She looks forward to soon giving senior citizens rides on the bike, which has space for two people in front. There will be a demonstration at Bullard Park this Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. for people to try out the bike as either pilots or riders.

ALBION – Susan Walders is eager to take local senior citizens out for a bike ride.

Walders pushed to create a chapter of Cycling Without Age in Orleans County and the group’s new tri-shaw, a 3-wheeled bike, arrived after being shipped from Denmark.

The bike has a padded seat in front for two people. The “pilot” pedals in back on the electric bike. Walders has been practicing as a pilot since the tri-shaw arrived about two weeks ago.

Susan Walders pushed to open a chapter of Cycling Without Age in Orleans County. She wants to make the cycle available to residents at nursing homes, assisted care sites and other care facilities, including those with developmental disabilities.

There will be a demonstration this Sunday, Sept. 10, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Bullard Park in Albion for people to get rides or to be pilots.

Walders and Cycling Without Age want to make the bike available to residents at nursing homes, assisted care facilities and other “care” sites, including those serving people with disabilities.

The launch party at Bullard will offer rides about every 15 minutes. It takes about 6 to 8 minutes to complete the crusher-run walking/jogging trail at the park.

“We want to show people what this is all about,” Walders said on Saturday at Bullard.

She has been training on the bike to build up her endurance and get comfortable with maneuvering it. She said it is very sturdy. The goal is to go on slow rides so the seniors and other passengers can enjoy the scenery.

“We want to get people out of their rooms and into the community and nature,” Walders said. “They can feel the wind in their hair. Getting outside on this bike will improve mood and socialability.”

Walders, 57, lives in Albion. She is a customer service representative for Yahoo! in Lockport, although she is able to work from home.

Her mother, Janet Ridley, is a resident at The Willows, an assisted care residence in Medina. Walders said she was researching ways to enrich her mother’s life as a resident of a care facility. A Facebook page popped up about Cycling Without Age.

Walders was intrigued by the group which started in 2012 by Ole Kassow in Copenhagen, Denmark. His focus was to get elderly and disabled people out for bike rides that are free. Kassow wanted people to feel less lonely and build a bridge between generations.

The organization has grown to chapters in more than 40 countries. The chapter in Orleans County is the first in Western New York. (Click here to see a map and information about the chapters in the United States.)

Susan Walders said the electric bike is pretty easy to maneuver. She welcomes more volunteers to be “pilots” to pedal and steer the bike.

Walders started working on forming a chapter about 18 months ago. The group has a board of directors.

The process went faster than she expected due to a donation from the First United Methodist Church of Albion.

The bike cost $12,000, with $2,500 to have it shipped. There also were legal fees to form the organization and insurance to offer the service. Walders said the United Methodist congregation agreed to cover the bulk of those expenses. Walders also secured other donations and sold items that she crocheted and knitted.

“We wouldn’t be here without the First United Methodist Church,” she said.

Now she needs people willing to be given rides, and pilots to do the pedaling. That’s why Cycling Without Age will be doing the launch arty and demonstration at Bullard on Sunday.

“This might be our first bike because I really want this to grow,” Walders said. “We could do group rides in the future.”

She said the tri-shaw could be taking to care facilities, or residents could be brought to a location with a safe path to go biking. Walders really likes the canal towpath as an option. The route could include a stop to get ice cream.

 Cycling Without Age may set up a rotating schedule for residents in the local care sites. She said she may also take the bike to other nearby counties if there is a demand.

The bike was made by Copenhagen Cycles in Denmark. It was shipped to Lake Breeze Bicycle in Lyndonville, where it was assembled and inspected. Walders and Cycling Without Age have had the bike for about a week.

“I can’t wait to give my mom a ride on this and some of her friends,” Walders said.

For more information, check the Facebook page for Cycling Without Age in Orleans County or the group’s website (click here).