Dolores Ring, 95, is feeling the wind again in Severna Park thanks to Cycling Without Age trishaw rides, where volunteers offer seniors more than a scenic trail connection, conversation, and a renewed sense of dignity.
In Severna Park, Maryland, 95-year-old Dolores Ring is rediscovering the outdoors from the front seat of a trishaw, a three-wheeled bicycle designed to carry passengers who can no longer pedal themselves.
“It’s so green,” Ring said, taking in the trees along a local trail. Beside her, 79-year-old Diane Bockman pointed out blooming crepe myrtles as volunteers guided them through the summer landscape.
The rides are part of Cycling Without Age, a global nonprofit operating more than 3,500 chapters worldwide. Its mission is simple: to give older adults and people with limited mobility the feeling of wind in their hair, regardless of physical ability.
In Anne Arundel County, volunteers pick up residents from Sunrise of Severna Park, a senior living community offering independent living, assisted living, and memory care. For volunteer Tim Stevens, the experience goes beyond exercise.
“They want somebody that’s going to listen,” he said, describing conversations that unfold along the route.
Staff say the impact is immediate. Residents return smiling, energized, and more connected. For some, the rides unlock memories. For others, they simply restore a sense of participation in everyday life.
Founded in Copenhagen by Ole Kassow, Cycling Without Age now operates in more than 40 countries, with a global summit planned in Budapest in September 2026.
Sometimes dignity begins with something as small, and as powerful, as a bike ride.
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