CCBUG RidesAssist Program
The CCBUG RidesAssist program provides people living with vision impairment and other people living with a disability, on the Central Coast the opportunity to regularly experience the joys and benefits of riding a bicycle in a safe and supported environment.
As a “stoker” on the back of a tandem, with an experienced and accredited ride leader as “pilot” up front, program participants will:
-
Have the opportunity to participate in a healthy and popular activity – riding a bicycle; something they are not able to do safely on their own.
-
Interact socially with able bodied ride participants and ride leaders:
-
during the ride,
-
at our regular coffee stops, and
-
at other CCBUG events.
-
In addition, our able bodied ride leaders and participants will gain valuable exposure to those living in a vision impaired world or with a disability, helping to create a stronger sense of community for involved Central Coast residents.
All our rides are offered free of charge, although we do encourage regular participants to join CCBUG as members for only $20 per year, and to join Bicycle NSW to obtain insurance cover and to support the peak advocacy cycling body in NSW.
Supporting Organisations
The following organisations and individuals are supporting this program.
-
Central Coast Council & NSW Government (initial grant funding)
-
Guide Dogs NSW (initial training on vision impairment)
-
Exsight Tandems (Illawarra vision impaired tandem group)
- Bicycle NSW
- Social Futures (NDIS Local Area Partner)
- Riding Together (Hasse Pino tandems)
We are grateful for the support and encouragement from all the above organisations and individuals.
Special thanks go to Geoff Stratton from Exsight Tandems who has further assisted by:
-
providing on long term loan from Exsight Tandems an Apollo Sport tandem;
-
facilitating the donation of an Apollo Elite tandem to CCBUG by Sue from Sydney.