Cycling Without Age

Cycling Without Age is a movement started in Denmark in 2012 by Ole Kassow. Ole wanted to help older adults in Copenhagen get back on their bicycles, but he had to find a solution to their limited mobility. The answer was a trishaw … a three-wheeled pedal-powered bike … with a pilot behind and a passenger seat up front for views of the community and nature. With his trishaw, Ole started offering free bike rides to the local nursing home residents.

Learn more about Ole and the international Cycling Without Age movement, and don’t miss his TED Talk to see how it all started!

While Cycling Without Age is growing across the United States, Northeast Wisconsin now boasts having more CWA Chapters than anywhere else in the country. Enjoy this video created by our friends at Make the Ride Happen in Appleton about their program, and you’ll also see and hear from Bike Fed CWA Manager Michelle Bachaus: Trishaw Transit Video

Bring Cycling Without Age to your Wisconsin community!

Wisconsin Bike Fed is grateful to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services for a three-year grant that supports assistance to skilled nursing facilities establishing and growing Cycling Without Age programs.

The Bike Fed can also provide help to other organizations and communities that have a mission to serve older adults and those with differing abilities to bring joy to local residents.

Let us help you by walking through the details to create your own Cycling Without Age chapter. Please access the links below to learn how to present the concept to leaders & volunteers, fundraise for trishaws, train pilots, and most importantly reduce isolation and put smiles on faces!

CWA Team is Coming to Bloomer, Merrill, Stoughton, and Fort Atkinson!

Bike Fed staff will be visiting the Bloomer, Merrill, Stoughton and Fort Atkinson areas to help community members, local organizations, skilled nursing homes, assisted living residences, and ADRCs learn how Cycling Without Age and trained trishaw pilots can provide older adults with enriching outdoor experiences that connect them to their community!

TRISHAW PILOT TRAINING CLASSES

Pilot training will include classroom and hands-on instruction for trishaw operation, rules of the road, best practices for interactions with passengers, and Q & A.  

These opportunities are free, and we only ask that you pre-register by the dates indicated. You will receive a follow-up email with further instructions to complete pre-class materials in advance of the training date.

Bloomer/Chippewa County Trishaw Pilot Training
Wednesday, September 27, 2023 1:00-5:00pm
(pre-register & complete pre-class materials by 9/25)
Dove Healthcare
2217 Duncan Rd, Bloomer

Merrill/Lincoln County Trishaw Pilot Training
Thursday, October 5, 2023 10:00am-2:00pm
(pre-register & complete pre-class materials by 10/2)
Assisi Hall, Bell Tower Residence
1500 O’Day St, Merrill

CWA COMMUNITY INTRODUCTION MEETINGS

Community introductions to Cycling Without Age include a brief presentation, Q & A, and the opportunity to experience a short trishaw test ride. These opportunities are free, and we only ask that you pre-register.

Stoughton/Dane County Community Introduction
Wednesday, October 11, 2023 9:00am-10:00am
Skaalen Nursing and Rehabilitation Center
400 N. Morris Street, Stoughton

Fort Atkinson/Jefferson County Community Introduction
Wednesday, October 11, 2023 2:00-3:00pm
Fort Atkinson Senior Center
307 Robert St, Fort Atkinson

We’re here to guide you:

Getting Started

From building a team, budgeting and fundraising, and handling insurance to planning your community kick-off, we’ve got step-by-step guidance to help you through the process that may take 6-12+ months.

Trishaws

These are the three-wheeled, pedal-powered bikes that make Cycling Without Age move! Learn how to order, maintain, and store trishaws for your program.

Pilots

Volunteer pilots are the engine that drives the CWA Program. Learn about who can be a pilot and what’s required of them – plus – find pilot training sessions near you!

Library of Forms

We’ve gathered essential forms in one place. Find the pilot checklist, passenger waiver, and other helpful resources in the Library of Forms.

Skilled Nursing Facility Map

Use the map to find skilled nursing facilities around the state, and discover opportunities for networking.

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For Current CWA Programs, Trainer/Educators, and Pilots:

We’d like to create connections, share resources and information, and demonstrate how the statewide program is growing. We need your help! If you are already actively engaged with CWA, we would appreciate your time to complete the sections of the following CWA information form that match your role(s). It should take about 5-10 minutes depending on how many roles you have. And, please, share with others you know.