Last week I visited Pedal People on Brighton seafront to celebrate the arrival of their two new trikes. Pedal People is a brilliant local charity making cycling and the seafront accessible for people of all ages and abilities. They run two services; the first sees Volunteer Cycle Pilots collecting residents of local care homes on trikes for rides along the prom, and the second lends people with complex needs and their carers accessible bikes and trikes to enjoy the seafront independently.
One of the highlights of the visit was meeting some of Pedal People’s volunteer pilots. The volunteers are trained in riding the trikes and in disability and dementia support skills, so they are fully equipped to support care home residents on their rides. The volunteers I spoke with were so enthusiastic about their roles and how important the rides can be in the lives of care home residents. For many participants, it’s one of their only opportunities to get outdoors. Spending time in the elements, people-watching, and even meeting local dogs on the rides provide mental stimulation, a new environment and fun. More than simply a chance to get some fresh air, the rides are something people can really look forward to each week.
At the event, we also heard more about what it takes to keep everything running. Pedal People’s fleet of specialist bikes needs constant maintenance due to being in the sea air. And it takes a small staff team leading over 50 volunteers to deliver the thousands of rides, which are so valued by the community each year. It was a really uplifting visit and fantastic to hear about a local charity making the beautiful Brighton seafront accessible to all.
Pedal People received a grant from the Rampion Community Benefit Fund last year towards maintenance for their sustainable and highly accessible cycle fleet.
Find out more about Pedal People here.
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