Adapted bikes allow those with disabilities to enjoy riding a bicycle. No more sitting on the sidelines watching the fun go by. Kids, teens, and adults can join family members and friends for a bike ride on a beautiful sunshiny day. Bicycles are also therapeutic allowing the disabled to exercise and practice motor skills.
Many different needs have been addressed by manufacturers of adapted bicycles. For positioning challenges there are wide seats, head rests, back rests, foot rests, clips and straps securing feet to pedals, and seat belts. For those with limited mobility or strength in their legs there are hand pedals or a combination hand and pedal option. An electronic device can be built-in to keep the bike moving at a minimum speed, usually around 6 mph. Passenger seats can be attached to the front or rear of an adult bike.
Cycles can even be special ordered and custom built. Sometimes a regular bicycle is retrofitted with special needs accessories. Easy to add on accessories include head and back supports, seat belts, and adjustable pedals.
Specially designed tandems allow either rider to steer and pedal Some allow a child to sit up front instead of in the rear. Others are 2 cycles connected side by side. They can include a bike and a trike for different abilities of riders. Rumble seats added to an adult bike can permit co-steering.
Hand cycles are pedaled with the arms. Trailer cycles use the rear portion of a bicycle as an added attachment. The person on the trailer can stop pedaling when tired. For those in a wheelchair, attachments allow the wheelchair to be pushed along by an adult bike.
Adapted bikes are sometimes covered by insurance as therapeutic equipment. Local services for the disabled may also provide funds to help purchase a special needs cycle. Check with local and national service groups for financial assistance. They are expensive but there is help. Those with special needs shouldn't have to watch the fun from the sidelines.
Many different needs have been addressed by manufacturers of adapted bicycles. For positioning challenges there are wide seats, head rests, back rests, foot rests, clips and straps securing feet to pedals, and seat belts. For those with limited mobility or strength in their legs there are hand pedals or a combination hand and pedal option. An electronic device can be built-in to keep the bike moving at a minimum speed, usually around 6 mph. Passenger seats can be attached to the front or rear of an adult bike.
Cycles can even be special ordered and custom built. Sometimes a regular bicycle is retrofitted with special needs accessories. Easy to add on accessories include head and back supports, seat belts, and adjustable pedals.
Specially designed tandems allow either rider to steer and pedal Some allow a child to sit up front instead of in the rear. Others are 2 cycles connected side by side. They can include a bike and a trike for different abilities of riders. Rumble seats added to an adult bike can permit co-steering.
Hand cycles are pedaled with the arms. Trailer cycles use the rear portion of a bicycle as an added attachment. The person on the trailer can stop pedaling when tired. For those in a wheelchair, attachments allow the wheelchair to be pushed along by an adult bike.
Adapted bikes are sometimes covered by insurance as therapeutic equipment. Local services for the disabled may also provide funds to help purchase a special needs cycle. Check with local and national service groups for financial assistance. They are expensive but there is help. Those with special needs shouldn't have to watch the fun from the sidelines.
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