In 2016, Christine Bell, then Project Officer for the highly regarded and multi award-winning grassroots community group CATCA (Communities Along The Carron Association), learnt of Cycling Without Age, a project in Denmark through which elderly people were being enabled to get out and about in green energy eBike Trishaws ridden (or “piloted”) by volunteers.

She immediately saw in this an extremely effective way to capitalise on the renovation work that CATCA had done, in that this would enable elderly people with limited mobility actually to access the renovated riverside path networks. So, with support from the Climate Challenge fund, she brought two of these very unusual vehicles into Scotland, conducted thorough and rigorous trials, saw that they would indeed achieve that aim and, in March 2017, the first Cycling Without Age branch (known as a “Chapter”) in Scotland was launched in Falkirk.

What can only be described as a media frenzy, which rapidly grew from local to international, clearly demonstrated the appetite for this service in all kinds of communities, organisations and the public.

Falkirk’s two MSPs at that time, Michael Matheson and Angus MacDonald, had been enthusiastic supporters throughout that development. They saw in it even greater potential, recognising the significant social value that a nationwide version of this project could have.

It could deliver major beneficial impact on health and wellbeing, mental and physical, for people in every part of Scotland with any kind of mobility challenge or living in isolation or loneliness: people in all generations but especially the elderly.

It could also address inequalities in health and opportunity and promote community cohesiveness and volunteering.

It became clear that, to achieve the countrywide roll-out that the Government wanted, and at a standard of safety and governance that the Government required, an over-arching organisation that could provide an assured programme would be essential.

So Christine was engaged by the Scottish Government to develop an operational model for an organisation that could achieve widespread participation in this activity across the country, regulating it to ensure the highest possible level of safety and governance but maintaining the underlying spirit and principles of Cycling Without Age and a grassroots community-led ethos.

An unusually well attended parliamentary event towards the end of that development period evidenced the high level of Government interest in and support for the project, including that of the then First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, who confirmed her absolute commitment to it. Christine Bell’s proposal was warmly received and, in 2018, Cycling Without Age Scotland (CWAS) was launched, funded by the Government and championed by Jeane Freeman, then Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport.

CWAS started with five Trishaws in one branch in Falkirk. Today, its nearly 2,000 volunteer Pilots, supported by hundreds of other volunteer Co-Pilots, Co-Passengers, administrators and fundraisers are operating 136 Trishaws and 7 Wheelchair Transporters in more than 80 Chapters in all but four local authorities across Scotland. A champion for volunteering and all the benefits that it brings, CWAS’ ever growing volunteer base includes Pilots in all generations, from teens to 80s. 35% of its volunteers are in their 50s, c. 50% are in their 60s and 70s and there are several 80 year-old Pilots.

In 2023 CWAS launched its TRIIP (Trishaw Rides in Iconic Places) programme, designed to play a significant part in making Scotland’s most iconic visitor sites accessible to virtually everyone and as its way of contributing to Scotland’s tourism and local and national economies.

Helix Park, the flagship of the TRIIP programme, now has its very own “Helix Hub” building, generously funded by the Community Schools 2008 Charity, with the funding administered by Foundation Scotland. It was a special thrill for us that the Helix Hub was officially opened on April 29^th 2024 by Andy Scott, globally renowned sculptor and creator of the Kelpies. To mark the occasion, Andy sketched (brilliantly of course) his interpretation of the two Kelpies, Duke and Baron, on the back wall of the Hub – well worth a visit to see that alone!

CWAS has developed or is developing this programme in six other locations, from the Antonine Wall to Dundee Waterfront, and the TRIIP Chapter in Glasgow Botanic Gardens launched on 20^th June 2025

CWAS dramatically increases the accessibility of these sites and heavily promotes that, so that people previously unable to access them now can do so. This boosts visitors to, and therefore support for, the sites and their associated economies. In a similar vein, what CWAS offers features prominently in Falkirk Council’s “Visit Falkirk” campaigns, for which CWAS was commissioned to make three videos to promote the significantly improved accessibility.

One of CWAS’s most important responsibilities to the Government is ensuring safety in its operations. To that end, all its Trishaws are maintained, all the time, at the highest technical standard possible and every one of its rides, anywhere in the country, is carried out by a Pilot who has been PVG disclosure checked by CWAS and has received thorough and certified training which is updated whenever necessary. Almost every ride is supported by a Co-Pilot, also disclosure checked by CWAS, who has received the same level of training. CWAS also ensures that every aspect of its operations and everyone involved are comprehensively insured.

Even in its most difficult period, the Covid pandemic, CWAS ensured that its service continued to be provided wherever and whenever possible across the country, keeping all Chapters up-to-date with prevailing legal requirements and advice. It increased the frequency of its communications with the Chapters to ensure that it retained as many volunteer members as possible during the pandemic in preparation for the country’s recovery from it. Pleasingly our volunteers stayed steadfast and committed and we are now busier than ever.

Very deservedly, Christine Bell, CWAS’ CEO, was awarded the British Empire Medal in June 2024 for services to the community in Falkirk and to older people in Scotland.