Last weekend, Michael Hansen left his wheelchair at home and scooted around the neighbourhood like any other five-year-old boy. The St. Albert youngster, who lives with cerebral palsy, received an adapted bike on Saturday thanks to the Borrow a Bike program in Edmonton. The new program loans fitted bikes to children with special needs. “It's been so good for us,” said his mother Donna.
Last weekend, Michael Hansen left his wheelchair at home and scooted around the neighbourhood like any other five-year-old boy.
The St. Albert youngster, who lives with cerebral palsy, received an adapted bike on Saturday thanks to the Borrow a Bike program in Edmonton. The new program loans fitted bikes to children with special needs.
“It’s been so good for us,” said his mother Donna.
“It’s such a regular kid activity to do and it’s just nice, he can just be a regular boy on a bike.”
Due to his condition, Michael’s muscles are weak and he has trouble keeping his balance. Donna said he was never able to travel far on a regular bike and other adapted bikes did not fit his needs.
The new purple four-wheeler helps him sit upright with a trunk support backrest and special paddles that he can strap his feet into.
It also comes with extended handlebars and a handle on the back to help Donna navigate while he still learns to steer left and right.
“I can go fast and far,” he said, ringing the bell and asking his mom not to push him so he can ride free.
Borrow a Bike is part of the You Can Ride Two program, an Edmonton-based partnership between pediatric physiotherapists, occupational therapists and the Edmonton Bicycle Commuters’ Society.
Thanks to $17,700 from President’s Choice Children’s Charities for five new bikes, and donations of bikes from families and charities, Hansen is now one of 30 families that received adapted bikes on Saturday.
Janine Halayko, organizer of the program, said many families cannot afford adapted bicycles, which can cost up to $6,000.
Their children are referred to the program through their physiotherapists or previously participated in the You Can Ride Two program that teaches children with special needs to ride two-wheelers.
“We just felt we couldn’t offer them anything else, so this way if they don’t graduate from the program there’s at least other options for them,” she said.
Once accepted to the program, children get fitted for a bike and loan it for the summer. In the winter the families rent out the bikes to schools.
Once their child grows out of its bicycle, families can get re-assessed for a new bike and donate the old one. All families have to pay a $100 deposit to make sure the bike is returned.
In addition to being able to join in on family rides, Donna said having the bike will help strengthen Michael’s leg muscles and, most important, give him more independence.
“The first thing he said to me on the day after he got it was ‘can I go for a bike ride,’ ” she said.
“He wants to ride to school or go to the park and it’s just nice for him to have the control.”
The Borrow a Bike program still has a few bikes left over and is considering having a second fitting day. Families who don’t have a therapist can also get a referral from a teacher.
More information is available at http://www.youcanridetwo.ca/.
