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Social Cycling ATX volunteers bike with blind students
I spent a recent evening cycling with some visually impaired students from the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired.
Each Monday during the school year, a group from Social Cycling Austin meets at the school and escorts a small group of students, who ride on the back of tandem bicycles, on a ride through nearby neighborhoods.
I caught up with the group on Memorial Day, their last ride of the season. (They’re taking the summer off, but will start riding again when school starts in the fall.)
About five visually impaired students climbed on the back of tandem bikes, provided by the school and local bike shops. Seasoned volunteers from the bike group ride on the front seat, in the captain position. The visually impaired cyclists rode in back, in the stoker slot.
Together, they pedaled in unison.
I was amazed at the fearlessness of the stokers. They’ve got to pay attention to the captains, pedaling on cue and easing up at street lights and stop signs. Some had never ridden a bike before.
Clearly, they enjoyed the ride. And with so much biking company, who wouldn’t?
We rolled away from the school, took some back streets over to Shoal Creek Boulevard, and headed north. In all, about 50 cyclists participated in the ride.
I was happy to tag along. It reminded me of that feeling of freedom you get when you first learn to ride a bike.
For more information about Social Cycling Austin, which hosts informal group bike rides nearly every day of the week, go to http://www.socialcyclingatx.com/ or friend Social Cycling Austin on Facebook.
Permalink | Comments (3) | Post your comment Categories: cycling
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By Hoorah
June 6, 2011 3:55 PM | Link to this
All I can say is that this is totally awesome. What a great idea! The people who give up their time to show those who are less fortunate such a simple pleasure as bike riding are truly saints.
By Chad Greene
June 10, 2011 1:03 PM | Link to this
Thanks, Hoorah, but I’d hardly say we give up our time. It’s always fun to ride my bike, and everyone on the ride (sighted or not) is a friend. Riding bikes with my friends is something I found myself looking forward to every week!
By Doug
June 11, 2011 7:26 PM | Link to this
I rode along too and took a few pictures — http://cycling.frenzied.us/2011-05-30-LendyourLegs/