The cycling without age program that was brought to Hastings by the Hastings Area Rotary Club has finally taken off. The two trishaw bikes purchased for last year were grounded due to COVID. This year, area seniors have been enjoying the great outdoors around Hastings thanks to the free, Cycling without Age program.

The initial trishaw and related purchases were funded by the Rotary. CWA is an all-volunteer group that operates and maintains two electric assist tricycles called trishaws. The difference between an actual trike and a trishaw is the dual wheels are in the back on a trike, they are on the front of the trishaw. The advantage of the trishaw design is a double wide seat in the front that give passengers a spectacular view instead of a view of the pilot’s backside.

The passengers have seat belts and under seat storage, the pilot can lower the footrest for easy loading and unloading of passengers, and the bike is electric assist. The electric assist makes it much easier on the pilot. Yes, the pilot must continue pedaling for the electric motor to run.

The program has been so popular with area seniors, the groups are looking to purchase a third trishaw, and they are not exactly low cost. Rotary and Oak Ridge are looking to split the total cost of $12,000. Oak Ridge is looking to add $1,000 to their portion to purchase the extra chargers and storage cabinets they need to keep the additional bike supplies in while the bike is not in use.

There are two ways you can help make the third trishaw appear in Hastings. First is a GoFundMe – https://gofund. me/27e9ff7e and second it by donating directly to the Rotary. You can donate cash or have a check made out to the Hastings Rotary Foundation.

It is estimated that over 50 rides alone have happened for residents of Oak Ridge, but they are not the only place in town that utilizes the CWA program. The two trishaws are stored at the Augustana Assisted Living building on 16th St and they are used by Augustana, Oak Ridge and Benedictine by nearly 50 volunteer pilots.

Oak Ridge has two trained pilots and they have been able to use the trishaw to take a fishing trip down to lake Rebecca, go to Emily’s bakery, get a pair of residents a beer from the colosseum, and take others out for coffee. This has been a huge deal for the facility because they do not have a bus or any other form of transportation for residents outside of the use of the Loop Bus on Tuesdays.

The two trishaws in use currently would stay at Augustana, the new one will be stored at Oak Ridge and all three will be available for trained pilots to use as needed at what ever location needs them. This is a purchase to benefit the senior community, the storage at Oak Ridge is to spread out the trishaws and have them be easily accessible for all pilots.

Lon Peterson leads the way for two Benedictine Employees training to be pilots for the Cycling without Age program in Hastings. The pilots take turn driving the trishaw and riding so they can experience both aspects of the ride. Photo by Bruce Karnick

By Bruce Karnick [email protected]