We love cycles and we love people’s cycle stories. Our Staff and Trustees share our passion, and we wanted to share it with you too! Our Cycle Stories is a new blog series devoted to introducing you to our wonderful team, and the diverse and varied ways that cycling has become an enriching part of their lives.

What is your name, and what do you do at Wheels for Wellbeing?

 I’m Katie and I work as an Inclusive Cycling Advisor supporting all aspects of our Wheels4Me.co.uk inclusive cycle loan scheme as well as doing administration for WfW more widely.

 What has been your career trajectory; how did you come to end up working at WfW?

 I’ve had a colourful life, growing up in Sri Lanka where my parents did charity work before doing a BA in Music at Cardiff University alongside freelance work as a photographer. From there, I went on to do an MSc in Transformative Learning and Teaching at the University of Edinburgh, hoping to improve the social and environmental issues the world is facing. I worked as a primary school teacher for 2 years before a contract ended and the opportunity at WfW came up. In 2019 I had broken my neck and cycling became something of both my ‘how’ and ‘why’ as I learnt to navigate my life as a Disabled wheelchair user. The job at Wheels for Wellbeing seemed perfect in allowing me to share my new-found knowledge and passion with others.

Do you use a cycle? What/how/where?

 I do! My hybrid handcycle is my legs and it gets me pretty much everywhere! As a full-time, manual wheelchair-user, paralysed from below the arms, I find that poor pavements, cambers and hills can be a challenge in a wheelchair and getting out with my handcycle is just that much easier, and more enjoyable!

What does cycling mean to you, and your overall wellbeing?

 Cycling is everything to me. It’s how I get fresh air, get my muscles burning, do my grocery shopping, socialise with friends, get to the train station and everything in between. As someone who has always loved the outdoors and adventure (and is a bit of an anti-car eco-zealot) my handcycle, which I can just unclip and chain up, is my biggest freedom.

Do you have a favourite session, route, or adventure?

 I’m so lucky to live in a beautiful coastal town just outside Edinburgh that is surrounded by wonderful off-road, segregated cycle paths- many of them former railway lines. Even just a trip into town becomes an opportunity to stop to appreciate the greenery and do a bit of foraging or enjoy a sea or riverside view. Aside from that, I’ve recently loved exploring a bit of the West coast and am looking forward to a big European cycle-packing adventure across the Balkans this Summer!

Is there anything that you think WfW does better than anyone else?

 WfW is a DPO – it is created and run BY Disabled people FOR Disabled people alongside a wider team of incredibly thoughtful, educated and open-minded allies within the staff. The commitment to pan-impairment inclusivity, the varied collective knowledge and experience of the team, and the fact that every single person genuinely CARES and loves what they do is so evident and so special. It’s been a privilege to work with an organisation that I feel truly represents us and our interests, and alongside such wonderful colleagues and service users in the disabled cycling community.

If you had a magic wand, what one thing would you change in #ActiveTravel #InclusiveCycling to benefit Disabled people, their mobility, and their wellbeing?

Funding. If there is one thing I have learnt since the start of this Wheels4Me.co.uk loan scheme journey is that there needs to be wrap-around support to ensure people can safely and comfortably cycle – this is everything from wide, safe, segregated cycle lanes, to suitable parking and storage, bespoke advice and a chance to try out a variety of cycles at a session, to availability of affordable non-standard cycle mechanics or break down recovery.

BUT the biggest barrier to many people even thinking about cycling is cost. Non-standard cycles, even used, can cost 20x the price of a second-hand bicycle, and especially for someone unsure or lacking confidence, while navigating the inflated burden and cost of living of disability, that is just inconceivable. Cycling has whole-body, societal level benefits in every way but if people cannot even access a suitable cycle then any other discussions are premature. Subsidised or free access to cycles of all varieties for those who cannot afford them would be a sensible and transformative dream.

Thank you for sharing your Cycle Story with us, Katie!

The Wheels4Me.co.uk loan scheme is run in partnership with Peddle My Wheels and Sustrans, and is generously funded by the Motability Foundation