Scheme sees elderly whisked around city
A pensioner has teamed up with his local school to help older people in Perth get out and about on bikes.
Norman Ridley, a former Salvation Army officer who stays at Quayside Court in Perth, is working with Perth High School pupils to bring Cycling Without Age to the area.
Cycling Without Age is a project which asks volunteers to take elderly people with limited mobility out on trishaws around where they stay so they can enjoy the outdoors again.
First launched in Scotland in Falkirk two years ago, Norman is hoping that Perth can follow suit and benefit from the scheme.
“I got involved with Cycling Without Age after seeing an advert in the paper,” he explained.“Pupils at the school had suggested it as a project for The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.
“I thought it was a fantastic idea, allowing older people the chance to get out and about and see the area.”
The scheme is set to be officially launched later this month but volunteers have already taken three Quayside Court tenants out for a trip.
Norman added:“We had three tenants go out on the bike last weekend to celebrate their birthdays.
“On the Sunday we had the Provost come down to visit a tenant who was celebrating turning 100 years old.
“I think he was pretty impressed with it all. We only have one bike just now but there is definitely a need for a few more.” Cycling Without Age is set to launch in Perth on Saturday, May 19. More information on the initiative can be found at www.cyclingwithoutage.org
Perth High School staff and pupils prepare to take Norman (seated) on a trip