Cycling For All

Words by Jenny Watson, Photos by Caroline Finn

Around 13 years ago, I was involved in a creative arts group based in Levengrove Park.

Through this group I met a wonderful man named Andy Binnie.

During our meetings Andy would often share snippets of information he had learned about the park.

It was fascinating to learn a place I had only known for great ice cream and the strange red dragon-like ‘ride’ in the play park (that I would often cling on to for dear life to save from falling off), was rich in history.

The arts group thought it would be great if we could share that information with the public.

Dreams Coming True

So Andy got to work researching and the rest of the group started designing a guided walk around the park, which was launched on 30 May 2012 - the parks 127th anniversary of being gifted to the public by local shipbuilders, John McMillan and Peter Denny.

During all the researching and planning, Andy always talked about making the park and the walks as accessible as possible for those with limited mobility or who didn’t live close by.

And 13 years later, Friends of Levengrove (FoL) have fulfilled one of Andy’s dreams.

Working with Cycling Without Age Scotland (CWAS) they have brought trishaws to the park.

Their volunteers provide rides allowing older people and those with limited mobility an opportunity to enjoy the beautiful vistas.

This was made possible by a lot of hard work by the Friends and funding from The Dr A.K. Glen Trust Fund, which enabled the group to buy two bikes and a storage container to keep them in.

Peter Robinson, a member of Friends of Levengrove and a trained Trishaw Pilot, told me “CWAS provide the training.

"This covers many things from how to operate the bikes – this is done by the Pilots - to helping people on and off them safely.

“The first Pilots were trained by September 2023; we are known as the Cycling Without Age Levengrove Chapter.”

The Trishaws can carry up to two passengers at a time and there is a whole team of volunteers trained to provide adventures around the grounds.

Information Through the Years

“People can tell us where they would like to go in the park but most often leave it to the Pilot to decide.

“We go to all the points of interest in the park. We learned the information about those places from a leaflet that was designed when the park was refurbished,” Peter told me.

I was delighted to hear this, as that leaflet was created from all the research Andy carried out all those years ago!

While talking with Peter, I learned that the bikes are named after Dr Glen and Andy Binnie as Andy had gone on to become one of the early Friends of Levengrove members.

This really is a touching tribute to a man who adored the park and always championed its importance in our community.

Your Ride, Your Time

Rides can be tailored to times and comfort preferences of the voyagers, with blankets provided for warmth if needed.

You can find the Volunteers near the Grove Café on Wednesdays between 10am – 2pm (weather dependent).

Anne Marshall a Levengrove Chapter volunteer shared: “Being a volunteer for the trishaws is one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever done.

“You meet lots of people and it’s a great pleasure to take them around our beautiful park.

"The passengers really enjoy being escorted in the comfort of a trishaw as many are unable to see the whole of the park on foot.

“They can sit back, relax and enjoy the views and have a chat.

“The feedback we receive is very encouraging. It is a pleasure and a privilege to be involved with the trishaws.”

The group are always looking for new volunteers to join and train to become a pilot.

And if you have any information or stories about the park, pay them a visit, they love to hear these too.

To find out more contact CWASLevengrove@gmail.com or check out their Facebook page: Cycling Without Age Scotland - Levengrove Park

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