Wheels in motion for accessible Chilterns adventures
New funding enables more people to experience the beauty of the Chilterns countryside through accessible cycling.
The Chilterns National Landscape is delighted to share that its Access for All grant programme has funded two new trishaws for Cycling Without Age – Oxfordshire, enabling older adults and people with limited mobility to experience the freedom and joy of exploring their local greenspaces by bike piloted by volunteers. The grant also funded a van and ramp, allowing the trishaws to reach more remote locations across the Chilterns and bring accessible cycling opportunities to even more people.
Mick Heath MBE, Founder and Operations Leader at Cycling Without Age Wallingford, said:
“Everyone deserves to feel the wind in their hair and have access to greenspaces. Our lovely passengers are no longer able to reach these beautiful places without assistance – we make these visits possible, creating big smiles and happy memories!
The new trishaws funded by the Chilterns National Landscape are the latest model. Their powerful motor and hub gears allow us to climb up onto the Chilterns Escarpment with ease – getting deeper into this wonderful landscape.
The van and ramp have been a game changer, enabling us to take the trishaws out to rural locations across the Chilterns, offering rides to care homes, community groups and socially isolated individuals. The van has already been busy transporting the trishaws out to Henley Regatta for the Disabled, Henley Show and Reading Cycle Festival.”
One of the new trishaws has been named “Annette” namesake of Annette Weiss, Head of Engagement and Partnerships at the Chilterns National Landscape. In her spare time Annette is a volunteer pilot with Cycling Without Age, regularly taking passengers on wellbeing rides, helping people build social connections and reap the benefits of spending time outdoors.
Through Defra’s Access for All grant programme, the Chilterns National Landscape continues to support projects that remove barriers to accessing nature, helping more people discover and enjoy this special landscape.
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