SHIFT NWT is bringing Cycling Without Age and a trishaw to town next summer
Published 6:04 am Wednesday, August 26, 2026
SHIFT NWT is starting a Cycling Without Age Chapter in Yellowknife and bringing a trishaw to town next summer.
Cycling Without Age is a worldwide movement that offers free volunteer-run trishaw rides to seniors and those with restricted mobility. A trishaw is a three-wheeled cycle with a cart in the front, where two passengers can sit. Local volunteers power the trishaws by pedaling and can visit care homes, senior centres or community groups to offer rides.
Becca Denley, co-founder of SHIFT NWT, said the organization has looked for ways to best accommodate individuals with mobility issues since it started its bike-share program two years ago.
“The Cycling Without Age program seemed like such a good fit for Yellowknife,” she said. “We’re such a small city, it’s easy to get across town.”
Denley added that seniors in the city might not be able to get outdoors as often and can feel isolated. The new chapter aims to allow seniors and those with restricted mobility to still create meaningful connections in the community, help them feel less lonely and foster social inclusion while promoting active living, along with providing an accessible way to get to events over the summer.
“When I go to work every day on my bike, I’m saying good morning and good evening to people along the way,” said Denley. “Cycling Without Age offers that opportunity for those connections to happen that maybe wouldn’t have otherwise happened.”
Yellowknife is a beautiful city with a lot of nature nearby, she said, and Cycling Without Age can let individuals enjoy the scenery.
“The Frame Lake Trail is a beautiful way to get around, but not everyone can access that trail when they have mobility issues,” said Denley. “A trishaw, like the one that we’ll be getting, will offer people, like seniors and people with disabilities, another option for them to explore their surroundings.”
SHIFT NWT recently received $60,000 in funding from the Government of the Northwest Territories’ Healthy Choices Fund to start the chapter this year and run it until 2029.
AVENS: A Community for Seniors will set up a location to store the trishaw where the vehicle can be easily accessed by their senior residents.
This winter, SHIFT NWT plans to purchase the trishaw, arrange for the storage shed and other equipment, as well as train volunteers.
In May 2027, the trishaw will be featured at the Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce Spring Trade Show and SHIFT NWT will open up bookings for the summer, including trips along multi-use trails and to festivals or events.
By next summer, seniors and residents who experience restricted mobility should be able to use the trishaw along streets with a multi-use or bike path.
The funding will also allow the organization to expand its free bike lending program to include accessible three-wheeled e-trikes next summer.
Currently, the program offers two-week loans of bikes, e-bikes, e-cargo bikes and e-trikes.
SHIFT NWT plans to collaborate with AVENS and other health groups to add a wheelchair pilot bike to its bike-share program in 2028.
Denley first went for a trishaw ride with her mother as part of the Cycling Without Age Chapter in Ottawa in September 2024. Volunteer Wilson Wood pedalled the vehicle for about an hour along the Rideau Canal.
Denley said she and her mother were able to greet others from the cart throughout the route and they thought the ride was comfortable.
Since this experience, Denley has been applying for funding to bring the program to Yellowknife and gathering interest around the community.
She said the organization looks forward to the chapter becoming a reality.
“We’re looking forward to working with anyone who’s interested in helping out,” said Denley, adding that SHIFT NWT is on the lookout for volunteers to help run the trishaw.
The Cycling Without Age movement began in Denmark in 2012 and spread its way around the globe with 3,500 chapters in 41 countries. There are chapters across Canada in every province and territory, except for Nunavut.
“We’ll be looking forward to seeing everyone out on the road when we can start next summer,” said Denley.