I’m a Cycling Without Age Affiliate!
Welcome to Cycling Without Age! You’ve joined a worldwide movement to give seniors and the disabled the opportunity to feel the wind in their hair, connect with the community, and enjoy building relationships. Here are a few tips on how to get your affiliate up and running.
1. Reach out to the community
Visit local senior groups, activity centers, assisted-living facilities, and nursing homes to introduce them to CWA. Consider approaching community service groups like Rotary International; fraternal organizations such as Knights of Columbus; churches, mosques, and synagogues; and the like.
You’re looking for people who will be excited about bringing CWA to your community, and will be willing to help — with funds, with resources such as space, and most importantly with people.
2. Protect yourself
Your trishaw is going to be transporting people, and while in our experience rare, accidents do happen. Our first and best protection against accidents is avoiding them in the first place through pilot training coupled with careful riding. Never let an untrained pilot take passengers on a trishaw. And make sure your trishaw is properly equipped and cared-for.
The second level of protection is the pilot waiver form. We do not guarantee that these are completely effective, or are effective in your location, so please have a local attorney review them with your affiliate in mind.
The third level of protection is insurance. Sources for insurance vary from one state to another, so please contact us for more information. There are several brokers that have secured insurance for our affiliates in the US. Silent Sports Insurance has a dedicated application page for Cycling Without Age here. Two other brokers that have secured coverage for US chapters are Jessica Lee Pittman and the Lester Kalmanson Agency; contact Mitchel Kalmanson.
3. Consider incorporating
While more complicated than operating without one, there are several benefits to forming an entity that will own and operate your CWA trishaw. First, if you form a not-for-profit company you may find it easier to attract donations that will help you purchase your trishaw and operate your CWA affiliate. Second, depending on the form of your entity, you may be able to include other interested people who can help you operate your affiliate and feel part of the CWA experience. Third, depending on the form of the entity you may be able to limit your potential liability in the event of an accident or other unforeseen event.
Be inspired by Marianne, chapter co-captain from France
A conversation with Marianne Tertrais, Co-Captain at Cycling Without Age Saint Quentin en Yvelines (À Vélo Sans Âge Saint Quentin en Yvelines) in France.
Hear Marianne and Ole talk about the importance of teamwork, partnerships and having fun.
Think of our organization as a wheel
We have been incredibly successful with this movement due to the peer-to-peer support from everyone involved. We enjoy nothing better than to support and encourage all affiliates with the establishment of their own chapter, but we also rely heavily on the Cycling Without Age global community to help balance the expectations of what can realistically be fulfilled by our small group at the Hub. We all help each other, but we don’t take it for granted. We stay happy, humble and generous.
You’re on the map
You’re now part of a global fellowship of passionate and generous changemakers on a mission to give our elders the right to wind in their hair. Your city, your name and your contact information now appear on this map.
Get Your Chapter Started
On this page you have an overview of all the resources available to you as an affiliate of Cycling Without Age: cyclingwithoutage.com/get-chapter-started. Bookmark this page, because it contains everything you will be needing.
Community Workspace
We have created a community workspace on Podio, which you will be invited to join (by separate invitation). This will be our main means of communications, and it’s the way our global Cycling Without Age community will help you get started. The overall principle is that we all help each other and share ideas, experiences and resources. We discuss relevant topics such as insurance, fundraising, training and engaging your local community.
The Trishaw
We have currently approved and work with two great trishaw manufacturers, trioBike and Nihola (more models are being developed and assessed). Order your bikes via this website: copenhagencycles.com. Please note that per the terms of your Affiliate Agreement, and for reasons of safety and quality control, we only permit our Affiliates to use trishaws available through the above website.
The aim is to get you started and with the help of the Cycling Without Age community to overcome all possible obstacles in the coming months.
Again, welcome to Cycling Without Age!
We look forward to helping you bring the CWA experience to your new affiliate.