Wheels are in motion for the ‘Cycling Without Age’ documentary at the Lobero

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - The unique trishaw bike has become a life-altering ride for many seniors in Santa Barbara. 

Retired Santa Barbara Middle School teacher John Seigel Boettner started the project here after learning of it in Denmark.

There are ten trishaws and a team of about 50 volunteer "pilots".

Many seniors are taking the trishaw rides to the beach, Coast Village Road, the mission, the Funk Zone and the scenic courthouse property.

For some, it puts them back on a bike after they thought those days were over.

The trishaw has a front of the bike seating area that is, for many people, a way to ride like they would have never expected. Two passengers can fit there.

TriShaw Santa Barbara founder John Seigel Boettner was on a ride with his passenger 96-year old Elizabeth Wright. He said, "I thought I'd just be this guy doing good things, taking older people for bike rides, just me, and come home ." When he saw the need, the interest and the potential, donations came in and volunteers came forward. "I just saw the power of it for people like Elizabeth, for the people we pass on the street."

Wright said, "it's so much fun because people smile when we go down the street.   They are not used to seeing this wonderful way of getting around town. "

She is often waving at people along the rides, and especially enjoys traveling down the State Street promenade where outside diners wave back.

A special film called "Cycling Without Age" about this program will be shown this Saturday at the Lobero Theatre at 7 p.m.

For more information go to: Cycling without Age - Santa Barbara