Well, we have officially wrapped up the 2011 Bicycle Valet season, and what a season it was!   Thank you to all of the patrons that used our service, and thanks for riding your bike!  Here’s 2011 by the numbers:

·         22,000 - number of bicycles parked
·         0 - number of bicycles lost or stolen
·         10,000 - number of bicycles parked in July
·         150 - number of event days
·         1,792 - number of bicycles parked in one day at one event
·         5 - number of events we serviced in one day

Finally, a huge thank you to the over 80 staff and volunteers that made this season possible!  We could not have done it without you! 

We’re going to spend the winter gearing up for what promises to be another record breaking year!

P.S. In October we had 2 more lucky contest draw winners: Cheryl Sharvit and Linda Tinkler.

Top

Jackie Ross: Adult Trike Booster

All her life Jackie Ross was an avid walker. But in 1998, while living in Canmore Alberta, she was beset by serious knee problems. Looking for a way to keep active and stay mobile, she first considered buying a scooter. But then she discovered adult trikes – and there has been no turning back. “I love trikes!”

Last year, Jackie, now 65 and living in Vancouver, acquired her second trike. It has 6 speeds, a solid steel frame, an extremely comfortable wide seat, and a large wire basket at the back. With the 3 wheels she feels supported and stable and the upright handlebars keep her grounded and well-balanced. Jackie uses her trike to go shopping and to visit in and around her neighbourhood of Kerrisdale; she has even ridden her trike over the Burrard Street Bridge to St. Paul’s Hospital.

Trikes are extremely popular in Europe and parts of Asia, though less common in B.C. But Jackie says there is a lot of interest – “Other seniors, and the families of seniors, often stop me on the street and ask me questions.” She says it seems that “some people just don’t want to get out of their cars, other people are afraid of trying something they aren’t familiar with.”

Jackie thinks one reason that there are few adults trikes in B.C. is the fact that unlike scooters and wheelchairs, adult trikes are not considered by the government to be medically essential. So even though they are ideal for seniors like Jackie who have serious mobility issues, the provincial government will not cover the cost. Because she is so convinced of the value of trikes for seniors, Jackie intends to begin lobbying the government for a change to this policy.

Costing in the range of $650-$750, adult trikes are a useful investment for anybody wanting to regain or maintain their health. An electrical assist for an adult trike adds another $1000 to $1300 to the price but can be extremely helpful if you are going up hills or if you want to work a little less energetically.

For more information on adult trikes, visit the STAR website at http://www.starcanada.ca/pilot-projects/tricycles-bicycles/.

Top