A Perth-based cycling group will be able to take its service users off the beaten track as bosses unveil a new all-terrain cycle.
Cycling Without Age has previously been using a trio of motorised tri-shaws in Perth to take elderly and disabled people out for a spin.
The contraptions feature a padded double seat at the front for two clients, while a volunteer pedals the vehicle from behind.
The busy group had been restricted to paved surfaces but this month, welcomed the arrival of a Paratreker Trail, an all surface wheelchair.
With two ultra-durable rear tyres and a smaller front wheel for steering and support, the machine has been tried and tested in the Cairngorms and has even made it to the summit of Arthur’s Seat and is now being rolled out to Cycling Without Age groups across Scotland.
The organisation’s Perth chapter has been trialling the rugged equipment, with 83-year-old local ambassador Norman Ridley enjoying a successful trip through the forest at Quarry Mill Woodland Park.
Lanark-based creators GM4X worked on designing the equipment with Strathclyde and Heriot Watt Universities.
Organisers hope they can capitalise on the cycling frenzy which has taken over cities around the world during lockdown and include people who would struggle to cycle on their own.
CEO Christine Bell said: “Tri-shaws are fantastic for what we use them to do, but they can’t go all-terrain.
“As soon as we found out about these, we were interested. They’re absolutely ideal for the pump tracks that are being installed in towns and villages everywhere.
“These enable people with mobility restrictions to join in and makes cycling more inclusive.”
Creator Gordon McGregor added: “It provides adventure to people who might not manage otherwise and it gets rid of the labels that come with being disabled.”
The Cycling Without Age movement started in Denmark in 2012 and has now spread to 50 countries. It arrived in Scotland in 2017 when the first group was launched in Falkirk.
The group have around 20 volunteers in Perth and are on the lookout for more. To get in touch with the charity, call 01324 467272.
