People living with sight loss in west Norfolk have been given the freedom of the road – with the donation of a tandem to the county’s sight loss charity, which will used to enable blind and vision impaired people to enjoy cycling.
Kings Lynn and West Norfolk Borough Council has funded the tandem and donated it to Vision Norfolk. It will be used as part of its regular programme of tandem cycling sessions, which run from Easter until October.
The tandem cycling is organised in conjunction with West Norfolk Cycling Club, which provides further tandems and volunteer cycling guides to ride with the vision impaired cyclists. Vision impaired tandem riders are welcomed on rides ranging from gentle ten mile outings to the club’s regular 50 mile-plus rides.
David Beveridge is one of the club’s members who volunteers to run the sessions with the charity. “Most vision impaired cyclists are a little nervous at first, and some of them may never have been on a bike. But it is surprising how well they cope, and confidence comes quite quickly,” he said.
“It is all about the communication between the sighted ‘pilot’ and the vision impaired ‘stoker’, which is what cyclists call those on the back seat of a tandem. The pilot has to give a running commentary throughout the ride, not just warning of obstacles and sharing navigation, but describing the scenery so that the vision impaired cyclist can enjoy the full experience of cycling in the countryside.
“It is all about building trust between the two, just as it is when two sighted people are on a tandem. Once that is established, it becomes a really enjoyable and fulfilling experience.”
One of the first to ride the new Vision Norfolk tandem was Fred Hargreaves, who has been completely blind since birth.
“At first I was nervous, as it takes a bit of time to get used to cars passing you, and being reliant on your pilot to keep you safe,” he said. “But I am someone who can’t stand sitting indoors, and the opportunity to get outside and do a new activity was too good to miss.”
Vision Norfolk’s west Norfolk tandem cycling sessions will restart for 2025 in April. To find out more contact Abbi Waters on 01553 660808, or visit www.visionnorfolk.org.uk/tandem-biking.
In 2025 Vision Norfolk is marking 220 years of empowering people living with sight loss to live independent and fulfilled lives.
