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Outdoor Adapted Biking
Adapted bicycling for people who cannot ride
a bike by themselves.
About Seacoast Wheelers
Our Story
Our Mission
Our Mission
At Seacoast Wheelers, we are passionate about bicycling and serving others. We are an all-volunteer group. We began this journey more than two years ago, receiving our 501(c)(3) non-profit status in December 2023. We will have three OPair E-Trikes and Pilots trained and ready to take staff of the organizations who will use our free service, for rides by mid-August 2024. We will be "open for business" by spring 2025. We also are very fortunate to have Portland Wheelers as our mentors and unofficial partner.
Our Mission
Our Mission
Our Mission
Our mission is to bring joy to individuals in assigned living or facing mobility challenges by providing inclusive and accessible bicycle rides, and companionship. We believe that everyone, regardless of age or physical ability deserves the opportunity to experience the simple pleasures that the outdoors provides. Our commitment is rooted in the belief that mobility should never be a barrier to enjoying the beauty of the world around us. That no one should be shut in or shut down. Our aim is to create memorable and uplifting experiences for everyone.
What We Do
Our Mission
Who We Serve
Our team of experienced, trained "Pilots" (those pedaling the bikes) will provide free 40-minute bike rides along the New Hampshire and Maine seacoasts (with an ice cream stop along each route). We will never charge for our services. Our on-bike volunteers interact on a personal level with our "Wheelers" (passengers) and fellow volunteers.
Every ride includes a safety team, one bicycle in front of the trikes and one at the rear, providing awareness and safety along the entire route. Families are encouraged to ride along on their own bikes.
Who We Serve
How We Do It.
Who We Serve
We expect to work with as many as thirty seacoast area ride partners; residential facilities such as assisted living, memory care, nursing and rehabilitation centers, schools and day programs. Our Come to Us program is designed for individuals who may be living at home or not at one of our ride partner facilities.
We serve the seacoast from York, ME to Rye, NH to Exeter, NH.
How We Do It.
How We Do It.
How We Do It.
A Board of Directors composed of volunteers oversees the programming and overall direction of the organization.
Our volunteers pedal our trikes, engage with our wheelers and share with them the experience of our community on 3 wheels.
Our Operations Manager oversees daily operations, coordinating volunteers, interacting with ride partners and supporting the entire Seacoast Wheelers community.
We will have one trailer (to start) or an electric van to transport the trikes, helmets, spare batteries and safety vests.
The Trikes
How We Do It.
How We Do It.
To begin, our trikes are OPair tricycles. These are multi-speed, one-seater tricycles with electric-assist pedaling manufactured in the Netherlands by Van Raam.
The OPair is no ordinary bike. The rear half of the tricycled frame attaches via quick-release hardware to a uniquely designed stand alone wheelchair. When the two sections are connected the chair tilts slightly back, lifting the front guide wheels off the ground. This produces a relaxed, stable sitting position, and makes conversation easy between wheeler and pilot.
They will be maintained locally by
Seacoast E-Bikes.
Rides & Routes
How to Reserve a Ride
Rides & Routes
Each ride route has been carefully planned for both beauty and safety. For example, the "New Castle" ride begins in Portsmouth and travels over the causeway, through the village of New Castle, along the Piscataqua River with a stop at the Ice House for an ice cream and ends back at where the ride began. The "River" ride takes pilots and wheelers through the town of Eliot and meanders along the Piscataqua River. The "York" ride travels through the village of York, crosses over the York River a couple of times, stops at The Village scoop (yep, ice cream), continues along the coast and ends where it began. There are other routes, but this gives you an example of some of our beautiful rides. We never exceed 10mph.
Health & Fun
How to Reserve a Ride
Rides & Routes
Seacoast Wheelers' bike rides are fun! And healthy too! Being outdoors on a bike, interacting with others, immersed in natural surroundings, enhances life and reduces a sense of isolation. Observing children at play, admiring flower gardens, or just waving at passing pedestrians-being out in the sunshine and part of the community is highly therapeutic. The health metric we use to measure the impact are smiles. Miles of smiles!
How to Reserve a Ride
How to Reserve a Ride
How to Reserve a Ride
Our three OPair adapted trikes are here and ready for use. Our plan for the remainder of 2024 is to show the trikes and explain the program at fairs, block parties, large social gatherings, Rotaries, etc. We'll also be contacting local nursing homes, assisted living centers, senior centers, schools, and others, to meet and allow staff and management see the bikes, hear about the free program, show off the website and most importantly, experience a ride. We'll also explain how to contact us to book rides and set up a regular weekly or biweekly program. What better way to explain what we do than to show what we do.
Volunteer
Volunteer
How to Reserve a Ride
Of course you can volunteer. We need all hands on deck. If you're an experienced bike rider, learn to be a pilot. If you can help in other ways, we'd love to hear from you. Drop us an email to info@seacoastwheelers.org
Help Our Cause
We never charge for our services. Your support and contributions will enable us to give people with disabilities, shut-ins and others, an opportunity to enjoy the outdoors (and companionship) from the seat of one of our adapted trikes. Use the donate button here or PayPal button below.
Donate using PayPal
Your support and contributions will enable us to meet our goals and improve conditions. Your generous donation will fund our mission.
Other Ways to Help
- Bequest - on behalf of a loved one.
- Company Matching Gifts - We love a challenge.
- Facebook Birthday Fundraisers
- Volunteer: Time + Talent = Treasure
Training Session - how to operate the OPair Trike, protocol and wheeler safety
COMMUNITY PARTNERS
