Creating social connection through cycling

Opportunity

There has been growing concern around the impact of social isolation and loneliness in recent years. This phenomenon has become increasingly prevalent in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Social isolation has been shown to have a negative impact on health, including limiting the benefit of surgical intervention like cardiovascular surgery and impacting mental health with a higher risk of psychosocial and physical disorders [1]. Research has shown that group or shared physical activity may improve the outlook of older adults by promoting social networking, as well as developing and strengthening relationships among participants [2].

Cycling Without Age began in Copenhagen in 2012, when founder Ole Kassow started renting a trishaw to take nursing home residents out for rides around the city. The movement has grown gradually from small beginnings and now has affiliates in 50 countries worldwide.

Approach

Alongside donations from the local community, the grant helped to purchase an electric-assist trishaw to allow Community Trike for York to begin to offer free, leisurely journeys for the aged and those with disability, increasing interaction with community life.

Before they begin taking people for rides, the volunteer ‘pilots’ undergo an induction training program to make sure they are able to safely and competently operate the trike. The training involves:

• Risk assessments and pilot checklist.
• Pre-approved routes.
• Required Police Clearance.
• Required vaccinations in line with Aged Care & Disability support workers.
• Privacy policies.
• Scheduling procedures.
• Final practical assessment.

The trishaw meets Australian regulatory and safety requirements and is fitted with a retractable hood, waterproof blanket and seat belts for the two passengers.

Impacts and outcomes

By the end of 2021, 100 people had used the trishaw in York, supported by three volunteers.

Cycling Without Age Australia (CWAA) achieves outcomes aligned to the Sustainable Development Goals, including reducing inequalities, promoting mental health and wellbeing and supporting inclusion. Change is achieved through applying the guiding principles of generosity, slowness, storytelling and relationships without age [5].

What worked

Providing a regular service to the community
Notwithstanding the interruptions to the program due to COVID-19 restrictions and other challenges, a regular weekly service has been provided to the two main aged care facilities in York as well as being available for various charitable and community-based events such as the York Festival and National Disability Day.

Key challenges

Finding permanent and accessible storage options
Finding a suitable location to house the trishaw that is accessible to the community and secure has been challenging.

It has also been challenging finding new volunteers who are able to assist in the operation of the trishaw. To overcome this, the organisation has used Facebook callouts for assistance to help keep the Trike on the community’s radar. Community Trike for York has merged with CWAA, which has a larger volunteer network and is trialling new ways of recruiting and retaining volunteers.

Limitations of being an unincorporated organisation
Community Trike for York was previously unincorporated and was acting as a chapter of CWAA using its guidelines for operations, policies and procedures. As a result, finding competitive insurance premiums for equipment replacement and public liability insurances was challenging.

REFERENCES

1. Püllüm, E., & Çevik Akyıl, R. (2017). Loneliness and Social Isolation among Eldely People. Meandros Medical and Dental Journal, 18(3), 158–163. https://doi.org/10.4274/meandros.32042
   
   
2. Jiyoung Hwang, Lisa Wang, Jodi Siever, Talia Del Medico & Charlotte A. Jones (2019) Loneliness and social isolation among older adults in a community exercise program: a qualitative study, Aging & Mental Health, 23:6, 736-742, DOI: 10.1080/13607863.2018.1450835
   
   
3. Cycling Without Age. (n.d.). Find Out All About Us. Cycling Without Age. https://cyclingwithoutage.org/about/
   
   
4. Cycling Without Age Australia. (n.d.). Becoming A Cycling Without Age Affiliate. Cycling Without Age Australia. https://cyclingwithoutage.org.au/affiliate/
   
   
5. Cycling Without Age Australia. (n.d.-b). Sustainable Development Goals. Cycling Without Age Australia. https://cyclingwithoutage.org/sustainable-development-goals/