New bike service helps folks with mobility issues get out and about in Thompson

Seniors and people with mobility issues in Thompson, Man., will have a new way to get out and see the northern city this summer.

The Thompson Seniors Community Resource Council recently bought four bicycles designed to carry people in wheelchairs and took them for their inaugural ride on Wednesday.

The bikes, which resemblea rickshaw that's pushed by a bike, will be used to take people for a ride around the city, something they might not be able to do on their own.

"All our old seniors and elders were stuck at home. We thought this would be a good idea to get them out in the fresh air," said Linda Dearman, chair of the council.

Penny Byer, a co-ordinator for the council, got the idea when she was going through some old files and came across a book from 2007 containing information about learning and mobility aids for children.

She contacted Vanraam,the Dutch company that makes the electric-assisted bikes, to find out ifthey made anything similar for adults, and they said yes.

She then found an article about a similar program in Dryden, Ont.

"And if they could do it in Dryden, we can do it here," Byer said.

Around the same time, a grant became available to cover the cost of the bikes, which ultimately came to $62,000.

After finding a Winnipeg supplier of the bikes, Byer put the grant application together.

"And then we get the email saying we've been successful. I'm thinking, 'Oh my goodness, now what? Now we gotta to do this?' It was exciting," she said.

The service will start providing rides once they hire pilots to pedal and steer the bikes. Rides will be available Monday to Friday, from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.

The bikes will be stored at the Thompson Citizen building at 141 Commercial Place.