Bright Squares
Happy and bright is the theme for my #brightsquare post today.
How can you not smile at the happy and bright faces of these senior citizens?
They were taken for a ride on our Tumbarumba to Rosewood Rail Trail in the Cycling Without Age trikes on our Family Fun Day on Saturday.
Cycling Without Age is a wonderful concept bringing joy and freedom to senior citizens who can no longer manage to ride a bike.
Cycling Without Age is a not-for-profit charity that provides a community service by connecting those no longer able to ride for themselves with their community and the outdoors by giving them free rides on trishaw ebikes, piloted by volunteer cyclists.
Source
The average age of those in these photos is about 90 years old, with Ailsa Cottam in the bottom photo (on the left hand side) aged 98! Just look at her smile!! What joy.
The idea for us to include the trikes on our program was started when one of the elderly residents was telling her daughter about how she used to catch the train to Wagga from Tumbarumba and wondered how the rail trail looked now that it was finished. She wasn’t able to get out onto the trail due to her frail state. We decided to ask for one of these trikes to be made available for our Family Fun Day and invite some of the elderly residents to take a ride along the rail trail. We were lucky to get the loan of two trikes. My husband was one of the ‘pilots’ and said it was one of the best things he’s ever done as they were so happy to be out on the trail.
We ended up with 31 senior citizens riding the rail trail in these specially designed trikes, and they loved every moment of it. They reminisced with each other, waved to cyclists passing them by and took in all the activity along the trail with wide eyed excitement. It was a bit cool but they were kept warm with blankets, hats and scarves and their smiles were bright and happy!
CYCLING WITHOUT AGE FACTS (from their website)
- Established in 2012 in Copenhagen
- First trishaws in Australia in 2016
- Cycling Without Age Australia incorporated as a registered charity in 2019
- Australia has over 60 Cycling Without Age Affiliates and approximately 35 chapter locations
- Represented in 46 other countries
- 2,700 trishaws
- 31,500 trained cycle pilots
- Over 1 million people served
- Oldest pilot is 90 (Jørgen Hass, Denmark) and oldest passengers (Madam Yeo Iu, Singapore, and Dagny Carlsson, Sweden, both 107)
What a wonderful bright idea that makes everyone so happy when they hear about it, or better still, see it in action!
I was fortunate to get a ride too with my fellow committee member, and we decided we were the Queens of the rail trail. Look at our waves 🙂
Becky’s square theme for April is Bright – it’s a challenge where she posts a photo every day. She invites others to join her in sharing their square photos, either every day or as they feel the urge. I’m dipping in and out through the month but am enjoying looking for all things bright and beautiful.
Feel free to join in with Becky and the Squares, the more the merrier.
Bright is a lovely theme to keep our spirits up, wouldn’t you agree?
Also joining Denyse for #lifethisweek
Enjoy!
Deb 🙂
You can also find Deb’s World in lots of other places – stay in touch by clicking any of the buttons below.
Everyone has a story to tell! Deb is a young-at-heart & active 60+ blogger/retiree, after being made redundant from her 22-year career managing education programs in a men’s correctional centre (jail). She now spends her time reading, blogging, riding her ebike and travelling. Deb was awarded a Bravery Award from the Queen when she was 17 after a tragic accident – a definite life changing moment! She is married with 3 grown-up daughters & has 4 grandchildren. She never imagined being Granny Debs would bring so much joy to her life! You can read more of Deb’s story here
Copyright © 2023 debs-world.com – All rights reserved
Deb's World 
Oh mu gosh, how much do I love this! Thank you for sharing all of those beautiful smiles.
LikeLiked by 1 person
They sure do make you smile don’t they Janis? It was the stuff of goosebumps on the day, hearing their stories, seeing their smiles and being a part of it all. I’m so glad you enjoyed them too 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is just glorious! Looking at those smiles put one on my dial – what a great initiative. Side note: you really have perfected the royal wave!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Sammie, it made me so happy to see their huge smiles :). Plans are in place for us to get a trike of our own now!
LikeLike
Reblogged this on Tumbarumba to Rosewood Rail Trail and commented:
What a great way of involving our Senior citizens in the Rail Trail! Cycling Without Age trikes are a fabulous idea aren’t they?
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a terrific idea. I am no where near the age of those lovely people but I sure do miss the ability to ride a bike.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Isn’t it a great way to show others the trail? We all enjoyed the smiles and fun of the weekend, a lot of work went into it but well worth it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh what a lovely idea. I love the inclusivity that certain activities offer. And of course some cultures are better at it than others.
And I agree that those in your pics look happy and joyful and that’s certainly contagious.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Deb, you have no idea how much joy it was to see their happy faces, despite the freezing cold day! It was a full ‘family’ fun day encompassing all family members!
LikeLike
Such a brilliant idea and they do look so happy, out in the air racing along the road.
LikeLiked by 1 person
They all had a ball Alison and are still talking about it days later!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Will it be a regular thing do you think
LikeLiked by 1 person
We are currently looking at buying, through grant funding and donations, at least one maybe two trikes of our very own, it’s been so popular!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Maybe do a sponsored bike ride with all the seniors
LikeLiked by 1 person
98!! And still out and about enjoying life. Amazing. I am going to be visiting my 94 year old mom in a few weeks and hope to take her for a few enjoyable rides out in the country.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes the secret to living well is staying active I’ve decided. I’m sure your mum will enjoy her time with you Leslie!
LikeLike
Congratulations to you and your team, Deb for what looks like a successful birthday celebration for the Tumbarumba to Rosewood rail trail. I would be a perfect passenger for one of these trikes as I’ve never been able to master riding a bike! Looks like everyone had so much fun and your post made me smile. xx
LikeLiked by 1 person
Many thanks Sue, it was a lot of effort but well worth it in the end. Yes you could definitely have a go in the trike and feel the wind in your hair :). We are working on getting some for our community, so when you come and visit I’ll arrange it for you.
LikeLike
Oh wow, Deb, what a wonderful idea! Just a brilliant way to include people of all abilities in the enjoyment of the rail trail. The smiles on everyone’s faces show just how much joy it brought not just the elderly passengers, but the pilots and spectators as well. Fantastic. regards Christina
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Christina, it brought us all so much joy, as I’m sure you understand. Well worth the effort!!
LikeLike
I just love this. The smiling people enjoying the day 💕💕
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes Bree, it was fantastic! We are working on getting one or two for our local community as it was such a popular activity.
LikeLiked by 1 person
oh this is so fabulous. You and your fellow volunteers are wonderful people. So much spreading of joy 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Becky, it made my heart sing to be a part of it all and see the happiness we helped deliver.
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
So much to smile about in this post Deb. What a wonderful thing to do for these older people. I can see the joy on their faces. Thanks for sharing this. It made my day #lifethisweek
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Jen, the joy is palpable isn’t it? I’m glad you can feel it too and smiled because of it 🙂
LikeLike
What a wonderful idea. You are never too old to have some fun. I haven’t ridden a bike since I was 15. I wonder if I could hook one of these on my husbands bike. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re right, never too old for some fun!!!
LikeLike
This is such a great idea, and it’s easy to see how happy it made those who had the chance to have a ride! That 98 year old lady looks amazing for her age 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
I know Ailsa is such a sprightly 98 year old isn’t she? It was a brilliant idea and put the ‘family’ into the family fun day!
LikeLike
I love the idea and what brilliant pictures. I hope the idea reaches here in a few years time.I would love to have a go.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Anne, I’m sure it’s a world wide organisation. I loved capturing their smiles and the pilots enjoyed it just as much, hearing their stories and seeing their joy.
LikeLike
Lovely story, made me smile reading it. Well done to all of you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks very much Paul, it was the best day!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Don’t they look happy? 🙂 🙂 Thank you for giving them something to smile about.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Jo, I love the joy emanating from their faces and being involved in giving them that experience.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Deb – what are you doing in that tri-shaw. What a great idea.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m giving the pilot some much needed practice Louise 🙂 and waving to the crowd!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Perfect answer Deb! And with style as always.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh my goodness! What a wonderful idea! You brought a huge smile to my face with this post Deb. Such joy brought to these elderly people is just fabulous. Nothing like the great outdoors and wind in our hair to bring a big smile to the dial and lift spirits. Just wonderful. Thank you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Min, I loved how it’s made others smile too, just reading about it and seeing the big smiles! The wind in your hair is such a great description.
LikeLike
What a wonderful initiative, Deb. Thanks for sharing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s just the best idea!! We are now working on getting some trikes for our local community through grant funding as everyone was so positive about it.
LikeLike
By all the comments before mine I can see the delight everyone else had reading and viewing your post.Fantastic weekend ( I am sure you had a lot of work leading up to it) for everyone. Such a great initiative having these older (than me, so far) folk ‘back on a bike’. G must be a very fit man!!
Thank you for linking up for Life This Week. Next week, the optional prompt is Interesting. My post will be a continuation of Telling My Story as I am wanting to wrap the series up. It’s great to have your blogging support on my link up. Thank you. Denyse
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Denyse, it was a fun weekend although a lot of work as you say. The cycling without age trikes were a real hit.
LikeLiked by 2 people
So. Much. Fun! Thank-you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Many thanks! I loved sharing it for Becky’s #brightsquare
LikeLiked by 1 person