Pedal power is helping many older people enjoy a new way of getting out and about in their local communities.
Southway Housing Trust has teamed up with volunteer pilots to offer free trishaw rides around Gorton and Abbey Hey to people aged 50 or above. The trishaw goes on another route along the Fallowfield Loop Cycleway, and the trust is exploring other possible routes.
A trishaw, which is very similar to a rickshaw, is an electric bike steered by a pilot, with comfortable seating for the passengers.
People aged 50 or over who are Southway tenants or living in Gorton and Abbey Hey can book free rides on the trishaw. The aim is to help reduce loneliness and isolation through taking older people out and about to connect with nature and other local people.
All the pilots are fully trained to provide safe rides with the trishaw, and the first batch of volunteer pilots were trained by South Manchester Cycling Without Age.
A special launch event was held at Southway’s Gorton Mill House extra care scheme for people to enjoy a taster ride on the trishaw, meet the pilots and find out more about the project.
The idea for the trishaw scheme came from the Ageing in Place Partnership Board, which is made up of residents and community organisations. The board is established under the Ageing in Place Pathfinder. Southway Housing Trust is the lead organisation for this project in Gorton and Abbey Hey, working in partnership with Greater Manchester Combined Authority to deliver the Ageing in Place Pathfinder – a programme which listens to and values older people’s voices in the places they live.
The Trishaw was bought with funding from Transport for Greater Manchester’s Community Access Grant.
Miu Tsui, Southway Housing Trust Age Friendly Project Manager, said: “We’re really excited about the trishaw scheme and I’m grateful to my fellow Southway staff, our partners and the volunteer pilots for making this scheme possible.
“Loneliness and feeling isolated is a real problem for many older people. We feel this scheme can help get people out of their homes and is another great activity in the Ageing in Place Pathfinder Project, which aims to make Gorton and Abbey Hey even better places to live.”
Pat Callaghan, a local volunteer and Gorton Mill House resident, said: “I really enjoyed my taster ride in the trishaw. It was a lot smoother than I thought it would be and I’m sure a lot of disabled people will enjoy taking trishaw trips.”
Tudor Baker, volunteer trishaw pilot, said: “Feeling the wind through your hair as you glide down the famous Fallowfield Loop should be something that everyone gets to experience. I’m excited to volunteer with Southway housing so that we can gift this experience to people who might have thought it impossible.
Councillor Arooj Shah, Greater Manchester Combined Authority lead for Equalities and Communities, said: “Our communities are so important to us as we grow older and projects like this by Southway Housing Trust allow older people to get active and connect with others. It's great to see older people in Gorton and Abbey Hey being given opportunities locally that are vital to their health and wellbeing and ultimately improve their quality of life."
Alice Carter, Active Travel Officer at Transport for Greater Manchester, said: “Part of our active travel mission here in Greater Manchester is to make the benefits and enjoyment of walking, wheeling and cycling available to all.
“We’re thrilled to have been able to support Southway Housing Trust in purchasing the trishaw so they can deliver this fantastic scheme.”
Find out more and book rides visit our webpage at https://www.southwayhousing.co.uk/trishaw-programme or contact Gorton Mill House (0161 448 4211 / 420 Abbey Hey Lane, Manchester, M18 8DU).