At 100 years old, Pauline “Polly” Lamartin isn’t slowing down, she’s speeding up.
A Navy veteran, nurse, and mother of five, Lamartin swims, walks, line dances, and reads regularly. But there’s one activity that makes her feel truly alive: gliding through the breeze in a rickshaw trishaw bike.
“I love it,” she said, smiling, “The first time, I was out walking and saw the rickshaw go by, so I followed to find out where it was coming from. I got a ride on it and went around the building twice.”
Now, every other week, she straps in for a two-hour joyride with Cycling Without Age, a global nonprofit offering free bike rides to seniors who can no longer cycle on their own. The motto? “The right to wind in your hair.”
And Polly’s not the only one hooked. The Anne Arundel County, Maryland chapter, where she lives, gives 200 rides a year across six senior living communities. The three-wheeled bikes, called trishaws, come with a canopy, electric assist, and plenty of smiles from volunteer “pilots,” some as young as 16, and as seasoned as 83.
“The thing that the bikes tend to do is create this sense of joy and happiness,” said Sandy Bishop, program manager for the local chapter. “Even just looking at the bikes makes people smile.”
Bishop started the chapter while researching adaptive bikes for her disabled daughter. After stumbling across Cycling Without Age, she launched a local effort with one trishaw. Today, there are three, cruising trails and campuses in the community.
Research backs the magic. Participants show boosts in mood, well-being, and life satisfaction, especially men. Volunteers report that giving rides makes their lives feel more meaningful, too.
“It’s almost as if, when you’re out on a ride, you’re caught inside this bubble where magic happens,” said founder Ole Kassow. “You can chat to each other, share stories and laugh. It’s pure freedom when you’re out there.”
Kassow, who grew up pushing his wheelchair-bound father on long walks to lift his spirits, dreamed up the program after seeing an elderly man on a bench in Copenhagen. “He just reminded me of my dad,” he said. “I found that the people I took out were complete strangers to me… but somehow, magically, we were able to bond.”
The organization now spans 3,500 chapters in 41 countries, with 25 U.S. states onboard.
As for Polly? She’s still soaking in the sunshine, the chatter, and the thrill of the ride.
“You can’t live happily if you aren’t open to new experiences,” she said. “So, you go with the flow.”
And in Polly’s case, that flow comes with fresh air, friendly faces, and a whole lot of heart.
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