Forres Rotary Club and charity Cycling Without Age Scotland launching town’s trishaw service
A unique passenger service is launching in Forres next month.
Forres Rotary and Cycling Without Age Scotland (CWAS) are inviting the community to enjoy a ride in, try piloting or simply find out more about new trishaw ‘The Spirit o' Forres’ at Street Food Forres, Caroline Street on Sunday March 30, then in the Masonic Hall and at Grant Park from noon-1pm on Saturday, April 12.
Rotarian Jim McPherson confirmed the club invested £8000 in the three-wheeler - similar to a rickshaw but with the passengers in front - to offer free rides to less mobile people.
He said: “Invitations have been sent out to funders, supporters and potential users including the Erskine Veterans Activity Centre North, local care homes and anyone else interested in joining as a pilot or co-pilot.”
Lorna Walker from CWAS helped set up the Forres project.
She said: “We will be providing information about the trishaw and its routes - which will be anywhere suitable in Forres. Unfortunately Nelson's Tower isn’t likely to be on the programme!
“The rota will depend entirely on the availability of our volunteers.”
Forres Rotary is supplying full training for use of the trishaw E-bike. Trainee pilots also learn how to help passengers get on and off safely. Refresher sessions are already available for graduate pilots.
Training graduates are issued with CWAS identity badges. The CWAS charity was founded to give elderly and disabled people access via trishaw rides.
The Rotary are fundraising for ongoing costs such as insurance and maintenance. A quiz was held in the Masonic Hall last month with around 50 attendees. Team CWAS Forres won £50, which they donated to the project. A total of £481 was raised at the event, made up to £500 by a Rotarian who was unable to attend.
For more information, email Forres.Trishaw@gmail.com or call Jim on 07748 725593.
