Marina is an accessible travel researcher and blogger. She shares her wheelchair accessible adventures at the Wheel Travel Blog, highlighting accessible paths in the countryside and more. In this article, Marina tells us about an exciting way to get out and about – via a wheelchair bike!
My new way to take in the fresh sea air is on a wheelchair bike. I love the feeling of gliding along the seafront in accessible Brighton and Hove.
This fabulous contraption is also known as a Duet Wheelchair Tandem. You need an able friend to peddle you along which makes for a cosy ride. As long as they take the corners wide and slow and stay on the car free paths you can relax and enjoy. It’s best used on surfaced level ground, so the seafront is perfect. Every time we go out on the wheelchair bike someone says “Ooh what a good idea,” or “Where can I get one?”
Between Brighton Pier to Hove lagoon are miles of promenade to explore. I prefer to start in Hove where it’s fairly flat. At the Brighton end you can choose the cycle path at road level or the beachside below. Access between pavement and beach level is on sloping walkways which we usually avoid as they are a bit steep.
Pootling along the seafront, we pass some great landmarks:The Brighton Wheel and the Pier; the Victorian seafront arches alive with bars, cafés, restaurants and clubs; the artists’ studios, the Fishing Quarter and free Fishing Museum. Sometimes there are outdoor events near the beach too, that we can stop off and enjoy. The Bandstand, the Peace Statue, Hove Lawns, Marocco’s Ice cream café and the colourful beach huts and Hove Lagoon are also some of my favourite places to stop.
Check out wheelchairbike.co.uk> for details on how to hire wheelchair bikes. You will also find a list of other locations in the UK where you can rent a wheelchair tandem plus details of some lovely car free paths across the country.
For more inspiration on days out around the UK, see other Days Out blogs
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About the Motability Scheme
The Motability Scheme exists to give customers, their families and carers greater freedom to get out and do the day-to-day things they need and want to do, by enabling them to exchange all or part of their mobility allowance for leasing a car, scooter or powered wheelchair.
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