"Wheelers" of Cape Elizabeth

Wheelers & pilots riding tandem bikes along Wainwright Drive

Photo by Jennie Smith-Brock

For several years now, bi-weekly from May-October, they have rolled on Cape Elizabeth streets. But somehow I had missed them . . . until one Wednesday in July when they rolled right past my home: The Portland Wheelers. I hopped on my bike and, as I gained ground on them, a woman with a “Volunteer” vest spotted me and called out, “Want to join us?”

Yes. Yes, I did!

The Bike·Walk·Roll·Cape organization advocates for safe streets for all ages and abilities, and here were Cape Elizabeth citizens not cycling, but being cycled, aboard extraordinary tandem tricycles.

As I biked alongside, through the East Brentwood neighborhood, then along Scott Dyer Road, across Spurwink Road, and around Wainwright Drive, I smiled a lot and learned about the wonderful Portland Wheelers organization. It is a small, local non-profit that provides tricycle rides to people unable to cycle themselves, such as some of Cape Elizabeth’s seniors residing at Cape Memory Care and at The Landing. The rear seat holds the “pilot,” a trained volunteer; the front seat holds the passenger, aka “wheeler.” Wheelers’ friends and family, as well as neighbors such as myself, are invited to ride along. The rides typically last 45 minutes.

The pilot and the wheeler are able to engage in easy conversation during the ride. Sounds of birdsong, rustling leaves, the talk and laughter of other riders can be heard.

Manufactured in the Netherlands, Portland Wheelers’ tandem trikes have electric pedal-assist. The front half of the trike can be detached as a wheelchair. This enables easy transfer to/from the wheelers’ residence. The trikes have safety features (e.g. a 4-point chest harness) and comfort features that enable people of a wide range of mobility and cognitive skills to ride out in Maine’s fresh air.

About 100 volunteers, including those piloting and those ensuring safety at intersections, help keep Portland Wheelers rolling along. Contact portlandwheelers.org to donate (those trikes are expensive!) or to volunteer.

As part of its mission, Bike·Walk·Roll·Cape (bikewalkrollcape.org) seeks to help make the streets of Cape Elizabeth inviting and safe for walkers, bikers, and rollers of all ages and abilities. We understand that slower, narrower streets and wide sidewalks, along with other infrastructure changes, would enable people to more easily get around without a car.

Imagine this: a Cape Elizabeth with safe pathways, not just for a bi-weekly tandem trike ride requiring volunteer pilots, but for seniors on mobility scooters or electric bikes, heading from their home to the IGA to purchase some groceries, and having the opportunity to listen to the birds and to chat with neighbors along the way. How wonderful that would be!