Frequently Asked Questions

All states have CMP funds, that are administered through CMS.

CMP funding is given to care homes in installments of up to $ 5,000 per year for up to three consecutive years, totalling a maximum of $ 15,000, which covers the cost of a trishaw.

Participating facilities must provide staff support sufficient to successfully operate a CWA program. Staff members ensure that residents know of the opportunity and they help make the pilots feel welcome.

If your application is approved, you will receive the grant from the CMP administrator in your state. Your facility may want to bear the cost up front for a trishaw and then receive the funding from the CMS subsequently. This means your cost of purchasing the trishaw will be covered fully by the grant, paid for over three years.

You can search for your local CMP administrator online and ask for their guidance or find answers. Or you can fill out this form and let us do the work of finding out what templates you need to send in and start filling out information for you to make it easier and less time consuming for you and your staff.

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The trishaws are made in Denmark, The Czech Republic and the Netherlands, depending on the manufacturer. They are all manufactured in accordance with EU standards, and have been designed, with the help of CWA, specifically for the purpose of carrying passengers who may have mobility issues. You can learn more about the approved trishaw models at the Copenhagen Cycles website. 

Copenhagen Cycles is owned by Ole Kassie and all proceeds go to Cycling Without Age.

The trishaws each have an electric-assist option that the pilot is trained to use. The system uses a “Pedal Assist Sensor” that applies power only as you pedal (assuming the pilot chooses to use the pedal assist mode). The power assist level can be varied from no assist through several levels of assist (depending on the model), through a controller on the handlebars. Power assist is cut when you stop pedaling or when your speed reaches 15 miles per hour.

In terms of battery life, there are a number of factors (speed, weight, incline, the assist level) that will dictate how long the battery will last, but it’s not unusual for the battery to be helpful for approximately 20 miles. Keep in mind that all of the trishaws can still be pedaled without the help of the battery, just like a non-powered bike, through muscle power alone. Many of our pilots only use the battery for starting and for hills. A fully-charged battery can be used in many cases for hours, so always keep in mind that some passengers may tire more quickly than others. Make sure to ask them frequently how they are doing.

Confident cyclists will quite quickly get used to riding the trishaw. After training you can safely ride it with passengers and after lots of rides you will build more confidence and if you continue, become an expert. To begin with try shorter rides, until you feel more secure. Always check with your passengers to see if they are comfortable and wish to continue. The biggest differences compared to a regular bicycle are the battery and the steering.

We also emphasize slowness – riding slowly helps us converse with our passengers, and gives both passengers and pilot a chance to appreciate the surrounding scenery, engage with passers-by, and is the safest way to enjoy the feel of the wind in your hair.

Two passengers together or one alone can weigh up to about 440 lbs.; this is excluding the pilot. The weight limit depends on the model, reach out to Copenhagen Cycles for more information.

We endorse a number of different trishaws, each suited for a particular need. There are trishaws that accommodate one or two people in the front seat and trishaws for one person in a wheelchair. Check out Copenhagen Cycles to see the options and pricing.

We find that most everyday maintenance — checking tire pressure, making sure the brakes and shifters are working, that sort of thing — is very easy to do. We’ll help you find a local bike mechanic who can do the rest. Many good bike shops are eager to become affiliated with CWA, especially because the trishaws are so visible in the community. A public “thank you” every now and then to your local bike shop is good for their business — and for your trishaw!

Yes, when properly operated! One of our guiding principles is “Slowness” – this is not only for safety reasons, but also because it enhances the experience for passengers, pilots, and the community. With hundreds of affiliates in more than 40 countries, we have a ton of experience giving our passengers the right to feel the wind in their hair — safely!

Once you’ve experienced a ride in a trishaw it’s very easy to see how an active Cycling Without Age program can improve the quality of life for your community.

CWA affiliates are often quite excited to show off their bikes! To find a chapter near you, please see our general map at our US website, or contact start@cyclingwithoutage.org and we’ll put you in touch with a local chapter.

Copenhagen Cycles website shows the approved trishaws for Cycling Without Age. This is also where to place an order.

Copenhagen Cycles is owned by Ole Kassow and all proceeds go to fund Cycling Without Age to support.

While any responsible, reasonably fit person who has been trained can pilot the trishaw, we often find that with our chapters in the US insurance requirements dictate the minimum pilot age, which tends to be either 18 or 21 depending on the insurer.

The single best way to pilot safely is to honor one of our guiding principles: Slowness. Riding slowly allows so many good things to happen between the passengers and the pilot, and between the passengers and the community! It’s an added benefit that riding slowly is the safest way to pilot. Check out the videos on YouTube here for more insight into handling the trishaws. Cycling Without Age YouTube channel, Copenhagen Cycles YouTube channel.

In some cases it will; other times you may need to add a rider to your existing policy or secure a separate policy. We can work with your insurance administrator to help make sure you’re covered.

We are very open to any kind of partnerships that benefit your community and all chapters looking for partners. One way is to sponsor a trishaw and have your logo on it. It is a great way to show your care to the community. Second is that you can also let your employees be trained as pilots and let them ride during working hours. Besides this, for example, if you own a café you could invite our pilots and passengers for a free coffee when they are on their rides.

There are a number of strategies that have worked for our existing affiliates. Very often local community groups such as the Rotary Club or neighborhood businesses will provide much of the funding. (You can put the name of the donors on your trishaw as a way of saying ‘thank you’!) Sometimes families of residents will contribute as a way of honoring their loved ones. Contact us and tell us a bit about your nursing home and your community and we can help you come up with some great fundraising ideas.

Sometimes our faces hurt from smiling so much and we often stop to chat with curious people who want to know more. This is one of the best parts of Cycling Without Age, the pilot and passenger get to interact with members of their community. This kind of spontaneous interaction happens all the time and can become addictive!

In terms of battery life, there are a number of factors (speed, weight, incline, the assist level) that will dictate how long the battery will last, but it’s not unusual for the battery to be helpful for approximately 20 miles. Keep in mind that all of the trishaws can still be pedaled without the help of the battery, just like a non-powered bike, through muscle power alone. Many of our pilots only use the battery for starting and for hills. A fully-charged battery can be used in many cases for hours, so always keep in mind that some passengers may tire more quickly than others. Make sure to ask them frequently how they are doing.

The trishaw has a portable rain cover as well as an optional waterproof blanket for the passengers. Rain showers are great opportunities to sit covered, have a nice chat, and stimulate the senses. Some nursing home residents haven’t been caught in the rain in a long time, and actually enjoy the experience!

One of the wonderful things about CWA is that there is no typical ride. Each one is different, depending on the passengers, the pilots, the route, the weather, and the community. But you can expect to see your passengers enjoying themselves, telling stories about their lives and their community, and being the center of attention as people along the way smile, wave, and call you over to stop for a chat. Sitting up front in one of our CWA trishaws puts the passengers first, which for many of them is something they haven’t experienced in quite some time.