A chapter of Cycling Without Age (CWA), an international programme in 41 countries, has been set up in Wānaka.

The worldwide movement aims to provide joy and vitality to all through the magic of bike rides.

It enables older people, or those less mobile, to get out of their homes or retirement villages and go for a ride in the fresh air, under the power of a volunteer pilot’s pedals on a specially adapted bike.

Wānaka Cycling Without Age’s Lucy Benson told the Wānaka App the group has been working on the project for a few months after setting up an incorporated society.

“[We] have secured funding for a specific electric trike to carry elderly passengers,” she said. 

Lucy and friend Beth Campebll first heard about CWA when watching a short film about it at the The Big Bike Film Night.

“We thought it was amazing and hadn’t heard of it before,” she said.

“We’ve slowly made strides to set it up in Wānaka.”

The group has secured $13,000 in funding from the Grassroots Trust for a bike, which is expected to arrive from Australia in February or March next year.

Lucy said Beth has visited Elmslie House where there was great interest in the programme.

“The pilot can chat to the people and engage with them, and get them out and about,” Lucy said.

“You have two people on it - your buddy, or your grandchildren.”

The idea “fits really well” in Wānaka with its network of tracks, she said.

There are 3,500 chapters of the not for profit CWA around the world. An Alexandra chapter of CWA launched in 2022, and Beth said the Wānaka group has trained with them. 

Lucy invited interested people to visit the Wānaka Community Hub on Thursday (December 11) from 4-5pm to find out more about CWA. 

“If you know about it already and want to get involved, come along. It’s great to have people with different skills.”