These “therapeutic tricycles” can change lives — but not everyone can afford one.
(Photos courtesy Portland AMBUCs)
It’s often assumed that cycling is only something that strong and athletic people can do. Along with the myth that all “cyclists” are white and wealthy, none of this could not be farther from the truth.
As we learned at last summer’s adaptive bike clinic, not only do people with all types of different abilities enjoy cycling, they do it on all types of bicycles. But for many of them, the barrier to bicycling isn’t physical, it’s financial. Adaptive bikes aren’t cheap — especially for families who already face the high cost of caring for loved ones with special needs.
Now there’s a Portland-based nonprofit that’s putting a dent in that problem by raising money to buy “therapeutic tricycles” for people who are unable to ride two-wheeled bikes.
Greater Portland Area AMBUCS (Facebook) was founded last April with the mission of helping people with disabilities become more mobile and independent. One of their most successful programs so far is raising money to buy Amtrykes and then donating them to people in need.
After hearing about this group from a friend of ours who works at Disability Rights Oregon (thanks Esther!), we reached out to the group’s president, Kate Stribling. We asked her a few questions to learn more about their work…
What does “AMBUCS” stand for?
“AMBUCS” is short for American Business Clubs and it was started back in the 1920s as an organization to help people with disabilities. Our chapter, Greater Portland Area AMBUCS, is a local subsidiary of National AMBUCS, Inc. They shortened the name to “AMBUCS” in the 1960s when they became an official 501c3.
Who is behind the local AMBUCs chapter?
Our board is a five member group of volunteers consisting of physical therapists and parents of children with disabilities. We currently have no paid staff members but we are hoping that will change in the coming months as we look to hire a grant coordinator and an office manager.
How many trikes have you purchased so far?
To date we’ve provided 14 Amtrykes (Amtrykes = therapeutic adapted tricycles designed and made by AMBUCS) for individuals of all ages and abilities, across Oregon and SW Washington. We’ve done this through support from National AMBUCS, The Reno-Sparks AMBUCS chapter and from individual donors.
How are these trikes different?
These bikes are pretty amazing… almost any adaptation a wheelchair has, these have. So for super medically fragile kids, that need extra support not just from three wheels but for trunk and head control or even for a ventilator, Amtrykes are game changers! They let kids with disabilities participate with their families and peers in a super age appropriate way.
Is there a goal for number of trikes you’d like or is it an ongoing need?
The need is definitely ongoing, Therapeutic tricycles do not come cheap, with base models ranging from $1315 – $2064. Despite health benefits, these tricycles are not covered by insurance which means families either have to pay out-of-pocket or receive sponsorship from non-profits (like us) for their child with a disability to be able to ride a bike. Currently we have a GoFundMe campaign going to support adapted tricycles for differently abled individuals in our community.
Stribling says they will give away another five tricycles to Oregon kids and teens this Saturday at Legacy Emanuel Hospital. (Please don’t just show up hoping to get a bike! The recipients have been pre-selected from the AMBUCs “wish list”.)
For Stribling, the inspiration to be involved with AMBUCs came from her work as a physical therapist in Alabama. “Our local AMBUCS chapter supplied a lot of those,” she said. “When I moved here there was this huge unmet need for adapted tricycles… I was hearing from families and even from other therapists that it was hard to get bikes funded… so I thought, let’s start an AMBUCS chapter and get these kids some wheels!”
“Riding a bike should be available to everyone regardless of physical ability,” Stribling continued. “I love riding my bike and I want everyone to be able to experience that same freedom and independence.”
If you’d like to volunteer or get on the wish-list for a trike, check out the group’s Facebook page or email them at pdxambucs@gmail.com.
— Jonathan Maus: (503) 706-8804, @jonathan_maus on Twitter and jonathan@bikeportland.org
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