Less mobile people find adapted share bike on Gfietst.be
Less mobile people can now find a customised shared bike faster. The new platform Gfietst.be by G-sport Flanders brings together all the locations in Flanders where less mobile people can rent a bike tailored to their needs. The aim of the platform is to allow truly everyone to enjoy enjoy enjoyable bike rides, regardless of age, health or disability.
Hop on your bike, go for a ride and enjoy the outdoors: it sounds obvious, but it is not for everyone. For instance, there are many people who cannot cycle independently (anymore) because of their age, health or disability. To still be able to cycle, these people rely on adapted bicycles for two people: a pilot who pedals and a less mobile passenger who rides along comfortably. Think of rickshaws, duo bikes or tandems.
All sub-points at a glance
"Cycling is the most popular form of exercise for people with disabilities, after walking," Stef Dehantschutter, chairman of G-sport Flanders, told us. "Yet it is often not so easy to find a suitable bike. Buying an adapted bike is expensive, and the commercial rental offer is limited."
Fortunately, there are many care facilities, welfare organisations and volunteers in Flanders who have adapted bicycles, and share them with others. To help less mobile people find those sharing bikes, G-sport Flanders is launching Gfietst.be. This online platform bundles all sharing points on a convenient map. This will give less mobile people easier access to a bicycle. And that in their neighbourhood and at a favourable rate.
Adapted bicycles enable sharing cycling fun. There is a strong focus on the social aspect of cycling together. When pilot and passenger hit the road, they enjoy a friendly chat, a spontaneous laugh and the blissful feeling of wind in their hair.
projectleider bij Mobiel 21
Shared cycling pleasure for all
G-sport Flanders and Mobiel 21 really want everyone who is less mobile to enjoy enjoy enjoyable bike rides. Gfietst.be's target group is therefore very broad: from the elderly to people with a mental or physical disability. The blind and visually impaired can also find what they are looking for on the user-friendly platform.
"Gfietst.be doesn't just collect all the share points in Flanders," says Ine Bosmans, project leader at Mobiel 21. "The platform also wants to provide people with all kinds of information about adapted bicycles. For example, it shows which type of bicycle is most suitable for someone with a specific disability. From Mobiel 21, we also support care facilities and welfare organisations in starting up new initiatives with adapted bicycles. This includes advice on buying a bike, looking for helpful partners or training cheerful volunteers."
Working towards inclusive mobility
In total, there are already some 30 sharing points on the online platform, accounting for a multitude of adapted bikes. The aim is to increase that number considerably in the coming years and get everyone on the road.
"Everyone should be able to cycle," said outgoing Mobility Minister Lydia Peeters, who rode along with residents during the launch of the new platform at Het Gielsbos in Lille. "We therefore remain committed to inclusive mobility. We do this, for example, by building cycling infrastructure that takes into account wide, adapted bikes. And by supporting initiatives such as Gfietst.be. Because when we work together, we achieve more."
Share cycling fun with less mobile people
Wil jij weten hoe je zelf een initiatief opstart om fietsplezier te delen met minder mobiele mensen? Wil jij piloot worden en leren hoe je vlot en veilig fietst met een riksja? Mobiel 21 staat klaar om je op weg te helpen.
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