By Susan Ketchum, Staying Put
SPRING VALLEY/ELMWOOD, WI – Thanks to a transportation grant from the Aging & Disability Resource Center (ADRC) of Pierce County, Staying Put will be the recipient of a Cycling Without Age rickshaw bicycle, known as a TriShaw! This battery assist e-bike with a passenger cockpit is manufactured to order in the Netherlands.
Last June the Staying Put Memory Café was treated to rides in TriShaws from Hudson/Stillwater. We are inspired by the vision of a new way to experience social outings with the “wind in our hair” while seeing our neighborhoods! “Our” TriShaw order was submitted in Fall 2023 at the same time as four that were recently delivered to skilled care facilities in Eau Claire, Wisconsin so we’ll hear about our delivery as the next shipping container is full!
Staying Put is looking for volunteers interested in helping with our TriShaw or to be trained to “Pilot” it in the Spring Valley/Elmwood areas. Once trained, volunteers will have the opportunity to pilot during village parades, at nursing homes and assisted livings, doing local errands, and enjoy the sunshine while “checking-in” with Staying Put clients. This is a wonderful new opportunity to hear client stories while offering an experience many haven’t had since childhood.
Training includes rules of the road, TriShaw handling skills, an overview of our TriShaw, best practices, and certification. Suggestions about making every ride a joy and sensitivity to help recognize and communicate with people of all abilities are also provided. Pilots do not need to be avid bicyclists or particularly strong as TriShaws are battery powered with electric pedal assist. Simply start pedaling and the battery powered motor gives a noticeable boost, making it easy to pedal up hills and go longer distances.
Volunteer pilots must be safe cyclists, reliable, detail-oriented, and kind, while meeting these minimum requirements: Age 18 and older, valid driver’s license. Willing to learn how to pedal an electric assist trishaw. Physically and mentally capable of pedaling a bicycle/trishaw in traffic. Able to multitask while safely navigating a TriShaw. And enjoy working with people.
If you would love to pedal people down memory lane, become a Staying Put volunteer and TriShaw Pilot! Contact info@stayingputinc.com or 715-778-5800.
For more information about TriShaws see WisconsinBikeFed.org-TriShaw and a resource: Pilot Training/Test Checklist.
