(Photo: Seven Corners bike shop)
On May 16th, Portland Parks and Recreation will host their annual Adaptive Bike Day Clinic. It’s a very cool event that doesn’t get much publicity, so I thought I’d share it here on the front page.
After being in local specialty bike shop Coventry Cycle Works to snap some photos for a story the other day, I was reminded that people who love to ride bikes come with all types of physical abilities. Seeing the flyer for this event in their window also made me recall a story I did back in 2007 after going on a ride with Southeast Portland resident Ian Jaquiss.
(Photo © J. Maus)
Jaquiss was hit by someone driving a car when he was two years old. A resulting spinal cord injury left him without the use of his legs; but thanks to a handcycle he’s able to get around the city by bike just like anyone else.
At their event next Sunday (5/16, which also happens to be Northeast Sunday Parkways) Parks will have a variety of two, three, and four-wheeled bikes for people to try out. If you know someone who isn’t able to ride a regular bike for whatever reason, consider taking them to this event. For more information call Portland Parks and Recreation at (503) 823-4328.
- Adaptive Bike Day Clinic
Sunday, 5/16 from 9:00 am – 1:00 pm
Eastbank Esplanade (under the Hawthorne Bridge)
Thanks for reading.
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Even though I’m not physically handicapped, I went to this event a few years ago and SOO enjoyed testing different types of recumbent and tandem bikes. It gave me a lot of insight into frame design.
And if you want to see the most amazing cyclist in America, check out Bob Mortimer
http://www.flickr.com/photos/60961560@N00/191506631/
One of the things I do is to modify existing bicycles to make them more user-friendly for people that are differently abled. Crank-forward designs that allow a rider to use both feet for balance when stopped are actually one of the biggest things I have found for getting people that don’t ride out on a bike. Most of the time it’s not that they can’t ride, it’s that they’re afraid to ride because they might get hurt stopping. Having their weight supported by the bike while having both feet to balance with gives them the confidence to ride and get stronger. Plus many of the crank-forward designs look like choppers without motors, which also makes the rider feel “cool”.