How Connecting Communities meant Chris could enjoy a summer of cycling by trike

Chris Rose was reliant on his Jorvik trike for transport following a stroke. He experienced hemiplegia, a medical condition in which one half of the body is paralysed or severely weakened.

When his trike was stolen, he could have found himself housebound. However, Cycling UK’s Connecting Communities project was there to help him.

Dagmar, the Connecting Communities Development Officer in Glasgow, found out about the theft via the Aye Cycle Community WhatsApp group. The group is “an online hub and information resource to cycling in and around Glasgow,” Chris explains.

“She contacted me to say that the project has two vanRaam Easy Riders: a compact version and a slightly bigger one,” he continues. Chris and Dagmar arranged a meeting, giving him the opportunity to test the compact version.

“Dagmar showed me how to adjust it, and I had it out on loan for two weeks. During that time, I realised it was slightly too small for me. We arranged another meeting and swapped the compact version to the bigger one.”

A lifesaver

Chris describes the loan of the trike as a “lifesaver”. He says: “I had a stroke a couple of years ago and using the trike stopped me being housebound. It gives me exercise and it was perfect timing as summer started shortly after.

“It’s the only opportunity to get out as I’m unable to walk to places and would rely on taxis.”

Having access to the vanRaam trike meant Chris was “able to continue my identity through cycling”. Before his stroke Chris cycled almost everywhere; investing in the Jorvik meant he could continue to get out and get exercise.

“It showed me that you can still do things even after such a lifechanging illness,” he says.

When asked about the impact the trike has had on his cycling, Chris poses an intriguing question: “Have you ever wondered why you don’t see many people outside who suffer from hemiplegia although many people have it after a stroke? Well, I guess that’s because most of them are housebound.”

I had a stroke a couple of years ago and using the trike stopped me being housebound Chris Rose, Connecting Communities participant

He also says the loan has allowed him to go on longer journeys, including to Glasgow’s Pollock Country Park, with its extensive gardens and woodland. This provides him with “a good connection with nature” that’s “not available for me otherwise”.

Chris adds: “My Jorvik wasn’t as sturdy as the VanRaam, and it was tipping over much easier.” The Easy Rider has a low boarding height and low centre of gravity.

“Using a semi-recumbent bike is much safer,” he continues. “The feeling of safety is very important for someone who is suffering from hemiplegia. While I had the bike out on loan, I learned that correct adjustments make a big difference to riding it comfortably.”

Taking part in Connecting Communities has benefited Chris in other ways too. It’s reduced his sense of isolation and allowed him to “enjoy the lovely spell of summer in Glasgow”. It has improved his health and wellbeing and, he says: “I have also saved money because otherwise I would have paid for taxis or transport.”

Being able to continue cycling has had a huge impact on Chris: “It’s the only way I feel normal! Everything else is difficult or time consuming.”

Essential infrastructure

Glasgow’s cycling infrastructure is essential to Chris being able to get around. He uses local cycling infrastructure as well as shared paths. But will also cycle on roads if he must.

“When I cycled to Pollok Park, I used a mix of cycling lanes and roads. New segregated cycle lanes have appeared in my area,” he says, referring to South City Way, a 3km fully segregated, two-way active travel route which links Queen’s Park in the Southside directly to Trongate in the city centre.

“I also discovered new paths in Pollok Park, but it seems they are not finished yet. I can go all the way to Glasgow Green using cycling infrastructure.”

Chris has been impressed with the Connecting Communities project. “The support I was given could not have been any better,” he says.

“After my trike got stolen I only had a gap of two weeks without a trike and Dagmar was very helpful and very quick in her response. I was able to try out two different Van Raam versions and they are amazing bikes!

“Due to the cost of a Van Raam I am unable to afford one, but I have managed to buy a new Jorvik which will arrive soon. Due to the help of the Connecting Communities project I was able to enjoy the outdoors during the summer months and was not housebound.”