Get Outside, Go Adaptive Biking

Get Outside, Go Adaptive Bikingby Ali Westlund • photo provided by City of Kelowna

Cycling has always been important to the St. Pierre family. “Kelowna is the perfect city to be able “Back when the kids were growing up, we were what to provide a service like this with an you’d call, a ‘biking family’,” says mother, Karen St. incredible bike and trail system that we Pierre. “It was a big part of our lives. Our two boys feel everyone should be able to enjoy, loved to watch their dad cycle cross when they despite any physical limitations they may were young and Evan, our youngest, enjoyed bike have,” says Tom Myatt, Quality Services competitions and biking club with his dad by his side.” Analyst with CLBC. “Our goal is to help break down those barriers and we’re Karen says it was also an especially wonderful time for thankful to Karen and the City for working their oldest son Kai, who has Down syndrome. Kai would with us to bring this idea to light.” ride along in an adaptive trailer towed behind his dad’s bike. Thanks to initial funding from CLBC, the City “We always looked at biking as a great family activity where we of Kelowna will be offering a new adaptive biking could all be together.” program this fall with two adult trailers and six adaptive However, Kai’s father, Jason, an avid cycler and runner, passed away tricycles available for program use. suddenly in 2014 when he collapsed during a bicycle trail ride. It was a “We’re eagerly awaiting being able to access these bikes and programs devastating loss to the family and their close-knit cycling community. this fall, I think it’s important that this type of program is offered in a Karen endeavored to continue cycling with Kai through his teenage years familiar space that can give people confidence to ride.” says St. Pierre. as it was something important that he and his father shared. Despite her “Biking is an important part of our lifestyle, there is such a huge biking best intentions to get him back on Kelowna’s cycling trails, Karen realized community here.” adaptive biking as a single mom came with a new layer of challenges. Biking is an important part of Kelowna’s outdoor lifestyle that we at “He loved being able to get out on those bike rides, it gave him so much Parkinson Recreation Centre feel everyone should be able to be a part of. more confidence, but I quickly realized, how do we continue biking when Kelowna has a rich community of people with diverseabilities and PRC it’s just me and him?” is a second home to many of them in helping to support healthy, active lifestyles. “I looked into adapted tricycles because I knew that would be something he’d really enjoy, but they are incredibly heavy. We also realized, where Kai is one of hundreds of Kelowna and area residents with special needs would we put it? How would we store it? These are large and expensive that have adaptive spaces and programs available to them through Access pieces of equipment.” Programs offered at PRC each season. This is made possible due to the support of Community Living BC. After hitting several roadblocks, Karen eventually shared her struggles with staff with Community Living BC (CLBC) and the City of Kelowna. As Kai’s mom says, “it’s always been important to us to focus on the things Kai can do, not the things he can’t do”. “I wondered, how can biking be made available for people who can’t afford them, who don’t have access or even enough confidence to give it a try? Now Kai, and anyone can join in too. Learn more about the City of Kelowna’s new Adaptive Biking Program for adults in the latest Kelowna That’s what made Kelowna’s Parkinson Recreation Centre a great fit to Activity & Program Guide at kelowna.ca/recreation. launch a new adaptive biking program.

K ar en St Pier e and her son Kai

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