Arvida Launches Cycling Without Age in New Zealand

Arvida, one of the larger operators of retirement villages and aged care facilities in New Zealand, is a business dedicated to redefining the ageing experience. Putting those words into action, it has brought Cycling Without Age to New Zealand, with the first bike arriving at Aria Gardens in Albany earlier this month.
 
Bill McDonald, CEO of Arvida comments, “We first discovered Cycling Without Age on a TED Talk and we approached them immediately.  It's a terrific initiative linking the community (through volunteer cyclists) with our residents who may have loved cycling or being in the outdoors in the past, and still want to feel the wind in their hair. We are delighted to be the first business to bring the initiative to New Zealand, but not as delighted as those lucky enough to be involved in the inaugural rides.”
 

Photo courtesy of The PR Shop

Cycling Without Age is a global phenomenon founded in Denmark and is now available in 26 countries across the world.  Dorthe Pederson, one of the founders back in 2012, visited New Zealand during the launch earlier this month.  She says, “This was created around a simple approach to remind people how to build a relationship with their elders, based on five guiding principles.  Starting with the simple act of generosity. Give time to your elders remembering the care and time they gave you. Storytelling – they have a lot of tell us, but they are all want to listen too and through sharing of information relationships are formed. If we take the time, the act of cycling slowly helps to take in the experience and appreciate it. Without age is the principle of how life does not end at a given age, but instead each generation can embrace what each has to offer through something as simple as cycling.”
 

Photo courtesy of The PR Shop

The specially designed bikes - trishaws – arrived in New Zealand last week, able to sit two passengers up front in a unique rickshaw style design.  Sturdy enough to offer a smooth and safe cycling experience, an added motor also assists cyclists with steeper terrain.
 
With villages located all over New Zealand, with over 2,000 residents across 21 locations, the hope is to have a trishaw accessible wherever there is an Arvida village. This will make Arvida one of the world’s largest operators of the Cycling Without Age programme. Those wanting to volunteer to take aged residents out for a bike ride can send their details to tristan.saunders@arvida.co.nz, or for more information about the Arvida retirement lifestyle, visit www.arvida.co.nz.