Ellis

Not only is Ellis Palmer a Journalist for the BBC World Service and BBC News Hour, he’s also an avid handcycling enthusiast!

As a child I tried riding a trike, but as I got older we didn’t do it much and so my cycling skills ‘lapsed’. I work in London, and so in my taxi I’d see these cyclists along the road and think: “Why can’t I do it?”. Never one to be undeterred, I searched and asked around.

It turned out that the guys who make my wheelchairs also make handcycles, and so I saved up for months and eventually had enough to make an order in January of this year. It cost £3,500 but was well worth it (grants are available, but I didn’t know that at the time).

I decided to come back home when lockdown started and my handcycle arrived at pretty much the same time. It’s given me the freedom to cycle to different places, such as along the trails on the north Wirral coast, through Birkenhead Park, my local green space, and cycling on the urban roads downtown in the Birkenhead area.

Here’s one of Ellis’ Tweets about handcycling (@ellispalmer94)

“As someone living w/ cerebral palsy, I’d never imagined I’d be able to handcycle with my dodgy balance. Prior to lockdown, I’d never cycled before – but the quieter roads gave me the chance to practice on the roads. Many disabled ppl can cycle w/ right support & infrastructure.”

Click here to learn more about Wheels for Wellbeing’s ‘My Cycle, My Mobility Aid’ campaign”

News archive

Taking Action against Discriminatory Barriers

Wheels for Wellbeing
Webinar recording Wheels for Wellbeing were delighted to work with Ryan Bradshaw from Leigh Day solicitors to offer this joint session on taking action against discriminatory barriers on 01/11/2023. A…
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Wheels for Wellbeing Guide to Temporary Works

Wheels for Wellbeing
Introduction Disabled people need journey routes to be consistently accessible, whatever mobility aids we use. Ensuring consistent good practice accessibility during road and pavement works enables both Disabled and non-Disabled…
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Index of guidance sheets

Wheels for Wellbeing
Wheels for Wellbeing’s guides provide a brief overview of best-practice standards for accessible and inclusive cycling. We also provide consultancy and training services to help organisations develop their infrastructure and…
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WfW Guide to Accessible Consultations

Wheels for Wellbeing
At Wheels for Wellbeing we’re releasing a series of guidance sheets for local authorities, NGOs, other organisations involved in decisions about walking, wheeling and cycling schemes and for anyone with…
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14 Features of Inclusive Cycle Parking

Wheels for Wellbeing
Wheels for Wellbeing’s guides provide a brief overview of best-practice standards for accessible and inclusive cycling. We also provide consultancy and training services to help organisations develop their infrastructure and…
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