A community charity in Rhayader welcomed a new and exciting addition to its community transport fleet last week.
On Friday, February 4, the Triobike taxi, which is an electric trishaw, came to The Arches, Rhayader & District Community Support.
A part of the ‘Cycling without Age’ project in Rhayader, the vehicle will allow volunteers for the charity to take senior and less able residents for bike rides.
The bike rides will give residents the opportunity to experience the wind in their hair and get out and about in the fresh air. It will also act an a chance for passengers to stop for a chat or a drink, and get to know their volunteer ‘pilot’.
Project leader at The Arches, Pippa Boss, said: “Cycling without Age was started in Copenhagen and there are now bike taxis across the world. We have been able to get ours through funding from the Lottery Community Fund. We have named her Sheila in memory of one of our Dial A Ride members who loved getting out into our wonderful countryside.
“We will train Volunteer Pilots to take passengers from our two residential homes as well as offering rides to our Dial-a-Ride and Memory Lane members – and anyone else who would like to get out and about again”
Sheila’s arrival in Rhayader was welcomed by James Evans MS for Brecon and Radnorshire, along with The Arches trustee and county councillor Kelvyn Curry, volunteer pilot Alan Samuel, and Pippa Boss.
Cycling without Age Rhayader will have an official launch in April, and start taking passengers on journeys shortly after that.
To find out more about Cycling without Age Rhayader, or to sign up as a volunteer pilot or a passenger, please contact The Arches via their website www.thearchesrhayader.com or phone 01597 810921.