About
​Ole Kassow started the Cycling Without Age movement in Copenhagen in 2012. Ole's father was confined to a wheelchair, so Ole knew first hand what a lack of mobility can to a person's independence and quality of life. The answer was a offering rides to his father and to seniors and the mobility challenged on specially-designed trishaws. The positive impact was transformative.
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John Siegel-Boettner started the Central Coast's first Cycling Without Age chapter in Santa Barbara. As its popularity grew, so have the chapters. The Central Coast now hosts Cycling Without Age Chapters in Santa Barbara, Ventura and Carpinteria.
​The Cycling Without Age movement has five guiding principles:
Generosity...Cycling Without Age is based on generosity and kindness. It starts with the obvious generous act of taking someone out on a bike ride. It’s a simple act that everyone can do.
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Slowness...Slowness allows you to sense the environment, be present in the moment and it allows people you meet along the way to be curious and gain knowledge about Cycling Without Age because you make time to stop and talk.
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Storytelling...Older adults have so many stories that will be forgotten if we don’t reach out and listen to them. We tell stories, we listen to stories on the bike and we also document the stories when we share them via word of mouth or on social media.
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Relationships...Cycling Without Age is about creating a multitude of new relationships: between generations, among older adults, between pilots and passengers, care home employees and family members. Relationships build trust, happiness and quality of life.
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Without Age...Life unfolds at all ages, young and old, and can be thrilling, fun, sad, beautiful and meaningful. Cycling Without Age is about letting people age in a positive context – fully aware of the opportunities that lie ahead when interacting in their local community.​