Thurso cycling volunteers to offer trishaw rides
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
Cycling charity volunteers in Thurso say their aim is “to get as many people outside in the fresh air as possible” as passengers in a three-wheeled bike.
The town now has its own branch, or chapter, of Cycling Without Age – a worldwide movement that seeks to give elderly or less able people access to the outdoors through trishaw rides.
It is being led by Kevin Oag in his role as captain of the Thurso chapter and there are nine volunteers at various stages of training. They hope to be in a position to offer trishaw outings by around mid-May, once full “pilot” training has been completed.
Kevin said: “We’ve seen the good work the Wick chapter of Cycling Without Age Scotland has been doing in taking residential care home residents, or those struggling with mobility or social anxiety, out and about in their local community.
“I expressed interest last year in setting up a chapter in Thurso and since then we’ve been working away, setting up a committee and raising funds to purchase a trishaw. We have now taken delivery of it and have been receiving training locally.
“This cannot happen without the support of volunteers to cycle the bike, and it is as rewarding for them as it is for the passengers.”
George Ewing, the Wick chapter captain, helped to set the wheels in motion and has been delivering the three-stage training process. He will also do annual servicing and inspection of the trishaw.
Kevin said: “I have been greatly assisted by George. Funding for the trishaw is complete but we are now looking at funding the erection of a storage shed.”
Funding has come from Baillie Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund, Dounreay Employees Charity Fund and Farr High School through the Youth and Philanthropy Initiative, an active citizenship programme.
The Thurso chapter is keen to attract more volunteers to be trained to pilot the trishaw and to act as outrider on another bike. It can be contacted through the Cycling Without Age Scotland Thurso Facebook page.
Kevin has worked as crew manager at the Dounreay Fire, Ambulance and Rescue Service for 17 years and finished in January with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service after 20 years.
“I can see a need for such a thing, and the benefits it can bring, and I have a desire to give something back to the community,” he said. “I have managed to get my wife Jacqui, son Kyle and future daughter-in-law Bella all involved.
“The vision is to get as many people outside in the fresh air as possible. Even though it’s called cycling, it’s all at walking pace to allow passengers to interact with other pedestrians.”
George Ewing is a retired police sergeant who works as Caithness-based development officer for Cycling UK.
He explained that the Wick chapter of Cycling Without Age began about five years ago.
“It’s basically for anybody of any age who, for whatever reason, cannot use a bike themselves,” George said.
“It’s for those that are more isolated, be it in their own homes or feeling the isolation of being in a residential home. It really helps the mental health and wellbeing aspect – it does make a big improvement.
“And once somebody has trained as a pilot, they can go anywhere in the whole of Scotland and use the trishaws of any chapter. We’ve now got just over 70 chapters throughout Scotland and there are over 3000 volunteers.”
