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Volunteers worldwide are giving free rides to seniors on ‘Couch Bikes’ [Video]

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  • A group called Cycling Without Age is back on the road to give free rides to seniors.
  • The group currently has 2,700 chapters worldwide.
  • The initiative aims to improve the well-being of seniors. 

Volunteers in cities across the world are bringing the elderly and persons with disabilities out for rides on modified tricycles.

The group Cycling Without Age is finally back on the road in Scotland, thanks to the easing of COVID-19 restrictions—and they are thrilled to be reintroducing their scientifically proven approach to improving elderly people’s well-being.

Cycling Without Age (CWA) was founded in Denmark in 2012 by two good-hearted citizens (including Ole Kassow of Copenhagen) who wished to help the elderly and physically challenged get back on their bikes. They created a ‘trishaw’ with a two-person bench in front for passengers to sit and take in the scenery.

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There are now over 3,700 trishaws in use by 2,700 chapters around the world, and everyone can see the evident benefits on the faces of those riding in the vehicles.

When the organization was chartered in 2017, the Scottish government supported it right away. It is now freely available in most parts of the country. The initiative, with the help of thousands of volunteer peddlers, has now given rides to 43,500 Scots and is being supported by 27 local authorities.

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Both passengers and pilots are again enjoying the sea and mountain views in some of Scotland’s most attractive places.

The Ageing Lab at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh actively worked to analyze the impacts of a ride day versus a non-rode day on dozens of volunteers who had completed at least four rides. 

When asked to use a scientific measure to describe their mood, stress, and energy levels, they demonstrated a significant improvement during the days they were taking the rides.

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“They give them the right to wind in their hair,” a representative said.

Although the service is free for riders, the bikes are said to cost $13,000 each, but that hasn’t stopped the trend. CWA is fighting loneliness and isolation in 52 nations, including Chicago, Bolivia, Colorado, Togo, and Malaysia, one bike ride at a time.

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Source: Good News Network

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