Vancouver B.C.

WHO WE ARE

Cycling Without Age is a global movement started in 2012 in Copenhagen. We aim to reach and improve the lives of the elderly and break them free from social isolation. We take them for rides to enjoy fresh air and conversation, and together, we create memories and smiles. Each CWA Chapter organizes its own operations and works with the volunteers in its community. BC and Canadian CWA chapters.

About the Vancouver Chapter

Founded in the spring of 2018 we purchased our first trishaw in the spring of 2019. In the Fall of 2020, we became a registered Society and now operate as Vancouver Cycling Without Age Society with charitable status. Our primary ride area is around the West End, Yaletown, False Creek, and the West Side of Vancouver.


Vancouver False Creek Seawall

Our partners include senior care homes, adult day cares, neighborhood houses, recreation centers, and organizations that support seniors and those with disabilities. Our primary passengers are seniors who are isolated and benefit from the opportunity to get out and enjoy the wind in their hair. The age of our passengers is between 70-100 with the average in their mid to late 80s.

We also offer Community Rides (public rides) for those seniors who would like a ride but are not in our ride catchment area. We pick up at Leg-in-Boot Square in Vancouver’s False Creek on designated days.  We do not pick up from private homes. We require all passengers,  including their companions, to sign passenger waivers and have the ability to transfer to our trishaws. Our rides are by donation and we give priority to seniors who would enjoy the social connection with family and friends.

S.U.C.C.E.S.S family rides, Yaletown Seawall

How You Can Help Us

BE A DONOR
We’re looking for financial donors to help us with the operational costs of Cycling Without Age Vancouver, or in-kind donors to provide items or services of need. Donations can be given through Canada Helps.

BE A PARTNER
We primarily work with long-term care homes to design a regular program of rides, routes, and schedules. Let us take your seniors for a ride and give them the opportunity to feel the wind in their hair. Our partners include:

BE A VOLUNTEER
July 2023 update. Thanks for all the interest in volunteering with us, we have all the Pilots we need for the 2023 ride season.  The season begins in March/April 2024 with Information Sessions, Training (group and individual), and volunteer meet and greet with our Partners. We give priority to volunteers who can dedicate time weekly (3 hours) during the months of April to October and are interested in working with our senior demographic living in care homes.  The Vancouver Chapter’s primary ride dates and times are primarily weekdays between 9 and 4 p.m. Volunteer opportunities include Pilots (bike riders), bike maintenance, operations, photographers, musicians, marketing, and fundraising,

Pilot Training April 2023
Windermere Care Mother/Daughter Ride, Douglas Park
Broadway Lodge resident ride, Kitsilano Beach

BUILDING COMMUNITY

CWA is less about volunteering in the traditional sense of the word and more about active citizenship. Citizenship is driven by a desire to get involved and to make a real difference for someone. It starts with the obvious generous act of taking one or two elderly or less-abled people out on a trishaw bike ride.

City of Vancouver with founder Ole Kassow

OUR GUIDING PRINCIPLES

Generosity: Cycling Without Age is based on generosity and kindness. It starts with the obvious generous act of taking one or two elderly or less-abled people out on a bike ride. It’s a simple act that everyone can do.

Slowness: Slowness allows you to sense the environment, be present in the moment and it allows people you meet along the way to be curious and gain knowledge about Cycling Without Age because you make time to stop and talk.

Storytelling: Elderly people have so many stories that will be forgotten if we don’t reach out and listen to them. We tell stories, we listen to stories on the bike and we also document the stories when we share them via word of mouth or on social media.

Relationships: Cycling Without Age is about creating a multitude of new relationships: between generations, among the elderly, between pilots and passengers, care home employees, and family members. Relationships build trust, happiness, and quality of life.

Without Age: Life does not end when you turn 75. Life unfolds at all ages, young and old, and can be thrilling, fun, sad, beautiful, and meaningful. Cycling Without Age is about letting people age in a positive context.

CWA Vancouver milestones:


CWA Western Conference, Canmore Alberta

Cycling Without Age Worldwide Facts As of  February 2023

  • Invented in 2012 in Copenhagen
  • Active chapters in 39 countries
  • Starting up in 20 countries
  • 3,050 chapter locations
  • 4,900 trishaws
  • 39,000 trained cycle pilots
  • Over 3 million rides and over 650,000 people served
  • Oldest pilot is 90 (Jørgen Hass, Denmark)
  • Oldest passenger Pauline Angleman, 110 from California (sharply followed by youngster Edith Green, 108, from Bournemouth)

Contact Us
Cycling Without Age Vancouver
vancouver@cyclingwithoutage.ca

Please note – we do not rent our trishaws
To purchase a trishaw of your own visit Velolifestyle

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