Introducing the HI Friends trishaw
Our Community Trishaw offers rides to local people who need a bit of help getting out and about. The battery-assisted trishaw is a three wheeler that carries two passengers at the front, giving them an opportunity to take in the sights and sounds of Histon and Impington, enjoy the fresh air and benefits of interaction with others – the rider, the companion passenger and passers-by.
The Village Trishaw has become a very familiar sight in the village after its purchase in 2019. HI Friends are keen to promote usage of the Trishaw for users throughout the community. If, for example, you have an elderly parent currently living with you or locally, the trishaw is available to use to take your parent out for an hour at a time.
Please request a ride for yourself or somebody you know, or ask for more information by emailing info@hifriends.org.uk or calling Neil on 01223 232514.
To see when the Trishaw is available please check the Trishaw Diary
If you have any questions please see our Frequently Asked Questions
We welcome more volunteers to help make the most of this amazing resource. See what’s involved on the Trishaw Volunteer page. You just need to complete a rider registration form and receive training.
History of our trishaw – a clever idea from Copenhagen
The Histon and Impington Community Trishaw project is styled on the “Cycling Without Age” scheme that originated in Copenhagen in 2012. These trishaws are now being used in over 40 countries to help people of all ages who have limited mobility to get outside and to experience their communities’ natural environment. A former Dementia Worker, Margaret Reed Roberts, had heard about a trishaw scheme being rolled out in Scotland and the trustees of Friends of Histon & Impington Recreation decided to champion the idea. A local supplier of the trishaw (Allan Fowlie of www.powertothepedal.bike) came to demonstrate the vehicle in September 2018 to an inquisitive and appreciative audience. The demo gave us confidence that the project was very worthwhile – the idea being to give people with limited mobility and/or social isolation an opportunity to get outside and enjoy the fresh air and interaction with others – the rider, a companion passenger and passers by. Fund raising began in the autumn of 2018 and was successfully achieved in early 2019 with delivery in April 2019.
We are extremely grateful to the following for making our plans a reality: