Several years ago, at a retirement community presentation about Cycling Without Age, a woman named Stella raised her hand.
She was not asking about comfort.
She was not asking about cost.
She asked something sharper.
Why are these bikes not made in the United States?
At the time, Cycling Without Age trishaws were only available from Europe. Stella did not accept that as the final answer.
She was already a pioneer. She had been the first female executive at Merrill Lynch. She was known for her clarity and resolve. When she believed something should exist, she expected someone to build it.
That question eventually made its way to us.
Dan and Jan Carr, longtime advocates of Cycling Without Age in Northwest Arkansas, carried the torch forward. They believed deeply in the mission and began asking whether a trishaw could be designed and built right here in the middle of the country.
We listened.
That spark, Stella’s insistence and Dan and Jan’s advocacy, led to the design and build of a Cycling Without Age style trishaw in Bentonville, Arkansas.
Before we talk about bikes, it is worth understanding the movement that inspired it all.
What Is Cycling Without Age?
Cycling Without Age, often called CWA, is a global volunteer movement that began in Copenhagen, Denmark in 2012. Its mission is to provide older adults with meaningful experiences outdoors and to connect generations through shared rides.
The movement is built on the idea that everyone should have the right to feel the wind in their hair, no matter their age or mobility. That phrase became a guiding principle and a way to explain the joy and freedom CWA brings to riders and volunteers alike.
You can hear founder Ole Kassow explain this vision in his talk about Cycling Without Age here:
In CWA, volunteers called pilots pedal specially designed trishaws. Two passengers called co-pilots sit comfortably in the front while the pilot steers and pedals from behind. Those rides become more than transportation. They become moments of conversation, connection, reminiscence, laughter and joy.
Today, Cycling Without Age operates in communities around the world, including hundreds of chapters across the United States.
The Documentary That Helped Communities Take Action
The movement reached a wider audience through the documentary film Cycling Without Age, produced by Pedal Born Pictures.
The film captures real rides and real conversations between elders and volunteer pilots. It shows how something as simple as a bike ride can unlock stories, memories, and meaningful human connection.
Cycling Without Age is a film about the power of feeling the wind in your hair, no matter where you are on life’s journey. It follows John, a retired teacher, and his merry group of volunteers as they use pedal-powered rickshaws to give adventure and joy to those who have lost the ability to pedal themselves.
Across the country, retirement communities, municipalities, and new Cycling Without Age chapters have hosted screenings of the documentary to spark local interest, recruit volunteer pilots, and generate fundraising momentum before purchasing their first trishaw.
How to Start a Cycling Without Age Chapter
One of the most common questions we hear is:
How do you start a Cycling Without Age chapter?
To support new communities, Pedal Born Pictures created a practical Toolkit. It is designed to help local leaders move from inspiration to action.
The toolkit includes guidance on:
• Building local interest
• Recruiting volunteer pilots
• Planning fundraising campaigns
• Hosting documentary screenings
• Structuring your first rides
You can explore the official resources here:
Join The Ride Toolkit
For many communities, the journey begins with a screening and a fundraising effort. From there, the focus shifts to selecting the right trishaw and preparing volunteers for training.
What Is a Trishaw?
A trishaw is a three-wheeled cycle designed to safely carry two co-pilots in a comfortable front seat while a volunteer pilot pedals from behind.
At its core, a trishaw is simple. It allows older adults and people with limited mobility to experience fresh air, conversation, and connection from the front seat of a bike.
But designing one well is not simple.
Modern trishaws are engineered specifically for stability, passenger comfort, and predictable handling at low speeds. Most include:
• Electric assist to support volunteer pilots
• Secure seating with supportive backrests
• Seatbelts for passenger safety
• Strong braking systems designed for heavier loads
• Wide wheelbases for increased stability
Because these bikes carry passengers, especially older adults, engineering matters. Frame strength, braking reliability, battery performance, and long-term serviceability are critical in senior living environments.
What We Learned Through Listening
When we began exploring trishaw design, we started with empathy interviews and conversations with chapter leaders, retirement communities, and volunteer pilots.
There was a lot to admire about the European trishaws that helped launch the movement. They proved what was possible.
But we also heard consistent feedback that there was room for improvement.
Communities shared that:
• Some motor systems felt underpowered on American hills and longer routes
• The front bench was narrow for two adult passengers
• Facilities often needed two separate models if they wanted to accommodate wheelchair users
• Service and support could be challenging across time zones
• Replacement parts sometimes required international shipping
• Tariffs and logistics added cost and uncertainty
None of these issues undermined the movement. But they created friction.
And when a program relies on volunteers and resident trust, friction matters.
Designing for American Senior Living Communities
Instead of replicating what already existed, we asked a different question.
What would a trishaw look like if it were designed specifically for American senior living communities?
That question shaped our approach in Bentonville.
We focused on:
• A wider passenger seat designed for two adults
• Electric assist capable of handling varied terrain
• A platform adaptable to different mobility needs
• Domestic manufacturing for faster service and parts support
• A support model aligned with U.S. time zones and logistics
• Long-term durability in daily-use environments
We approached the trishaw the same way we approach our cargo bikes. It had to carry real weight safely. It had to feel stable at low speeds. It had to be maintainable by local shops. And it had to stand up to consistent use.
A trishaw is not just equipment. It becomes part of a community’s daily rhythm.
It carries stories.
It carries memories.
It carries people who deserve to feel secure every time they ride.
If you are evaluating options for your community, take a look at our Trishaw!
Why Senior Living Communities Adopt Cycling Without Age
Cycling Without Age programs are often launched by:
• Retirement communities
• Assisted living facilities
• Independent living campuses
• Nonprofits
• Volunteer organizations
• Adult day centers
The impact goes far beyond the ride itself.
Communities frequently report:
• Increased resident engagement
• Improved mood and emotional wellbeing
• Intergenerational connection
• Stronger volunteer participation
• A visible commitment to quality of life
For many residents, the ride brings back memories of neighborhoods, first jobs, and family homes. Stories that may stay quiet indoors often come alive outdoors.
Why Local Manufacturing Became Part of the Story
When Stella asked why trishaws were not made in the United States, she was not thinking about supply chains.
She was thinking about possibility.
Dan and Jan believed the same thing. They believed that a program built around dignity and connection deserved equipment built with care and long-term support.
That belief is what led us to design and build a Cycling Without Age style trishaw in Bentonville.
Not because we were chasing a trend.
Because a community asked us to step up.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cycling Without Age
What is Cycling Without Age?
Cycling Without Age is a global volunteer movement that provides free trishaw rides to older adults and people with limited mobility.
How do you start a Cycling Without Age chapter?
Most chapters begin with community interest, fundraising, and purchasing a trishaw. The official documentary team provides a Start-a-Chapter Toolkit to guide communities through the process.
What is a trishaw?
A trishaw is a three-wheeled cycle designed to carry two passengers in a comfortable front seat while a volunteer pilot pedals from behind.
Are trishaws electric?
Most modern trishaws include electric assist to help volunteer pilots ride comfortably while carrying passengers.
A Question That Still Guides Us
Stella asked a simple question.
If something meaningful should exist, why should we wait for someone else to build it?
Cycling Without Age continues to grow because individuals and communities choose to act on that question.
Sometimes the first step is watching the film.
Sometimes it is hosting a screening.
Sometimes it is deciding to bring a trishaw to your own community.
However it begins, it always starts with someone who believes connection is worth the effort.
Want help exploring a program for your community?
If you are considering starting a Cycling Without Age chapter, we are happy to connect and share what we have learned from communities across the U.S.