People with disabilities are being offered the chance to try reclining trikes which could make cycling “more accessible” in Sheffield today.
Sheffield Cycling 4 All is inviting stroke survivors, brain injury survivors, amputees, and people affected by conditions such as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome or Parkinson’s disease, to Hillsborough Park to try out some of the best e-assist recumbent trikes around.
E-assist recumbent trikes are electric bikes with three wheels that take less effort than riding a normal bike, allowing you to ride further and on different terrains, without requiring much effort.
Tom Collister, 46, Project Co-ordinator at Sheffield Cycling 4 All, said: “Our aim is to make cycling more accessible for disabled people and people with long-term health conditions.”
There will be a range of different trikes, mostly powered cycles, for people with disabilities or long-term health conditions to try.
Sheffield Cycling 4 All was first set up by Disability Sheffield, which is a user-led organisation, run and controlled by people with disabilities.
The project, which has been running for 15 years, offers a range of inclusive cycling projects like inclusive off-road cycling days in different locations, such as Parkwood Springs and Concord Park.
As well as offering public cycling sessions, they also host a weekly VIP (visually impaired pedallers) cycling group for people with visual impairments who want to exercise and socialise, and a pedal-strokes and brain injury cycling group for anyone who has been affected by a stroke or brain injury.
Beyond the park sessions, Sheffield Cycling 4 All offers a trike loan scheme and a cycle loan scheme to anyone who needs assistance. This allows people to have trikes or cycles at home for up to three months to experience cycling as a form of transport.
They also host consultations with different councils about accessibility of routes in Sheffield and campaign for better accessibility and infrastructure for disabled cyclists.
As well as that, they have a YouTube channel where they post information videos about different types of cycles.
No previous cycling experience is required and you don’t need to register for the event in advance.
The event is running from 10:30am until 1:30pm today.
