Tandem bikes bring joy, mobility to Raleigh people with disabilities

A new effort in Raleigh wants to bring specialized tandem bikes to the Oak City to give people with limited mobility the opportunity to use the city's greenway system.
Posted 5/12/2017, 9:56:41 PM Updated 9/23/2025, 7:51:52 PM

SEE THE JERSEYS AND MASCOT THIS

SUMMER.

.

>>> WAKE COUNTY IS HOME TO AN

EXTENSIVE GREENWAY

SYSTEM.

IT'S SOMETHING MANY OF US TAKE

FOR GRANTED.

PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES CAN

HAVE A HARD TIME -- AND

THE NEW EFFORT TO BRING THOSE

BIKES TO PUBLIC PARKS.

>> REPORTER: THAT'S SHAWN

TOOMEY AND HIS DAUGHTER

LAURA.

>> SHE'S A SEVERELY DISABLED

KID THAT HAS BROUGHT US

BLESSINGS AND JOY SINCE SHE'S

BEEN HERE.

>> REPORTER: AND THEY'RE DOING

SOMETHING THAT SHE

LOVES: GOING FOR A BIKE RIDE

ALL THANKS TO THE

SPECIAL WHEELCHAIR EQUIPPED

TANDEM BICYCLE.

SHAWN IS KNOWN AROUND THE

NEIGHBORHOOD AS THE GUY

WITH THE BIG BIKE, AND THAT BIG

BIKE USUALLY HAS A

SMILING GIRL RIDING ON THE

FRONT.

>> WHEN SHE RIDES IT, SOMETIMES

SHE'S LAUGHING SO

HARD I HAVE TO REMIND HER TO

BREATHE.

>> REPORTER: NOW THE PUBLIC

MIGHT HAVE A CHANCE TO

USE THESE SPECIAL BIKES.

SCOTT RESTON BUILDS WEB SITES,

AND HE'S LAUNCHING A

CAMPAIGN TO BRING WHEELCHAIR

BIKES TO THE CITY'S

GREENWAYS.

>> I JUST REALLY KNOW HOW MUCH

JOY A BIKE RIDE CAN

BRING TO PEOPLE.

AND I JUST REALLIBILITY WANTED

TO FIND A WAY TO

WRING THAT TO MORE PEOPLE.

>> REPORTER: IT WOULD START

SMALL, JUST A COUPLE OF

BIKES AT FIRST WITH VOLUNTEER

PEDDLERS.

RESTIN THINKS IT COULD BE THE

START OF SOMETHING

BIGGER.

>> WE HAVE AN EXTENSIVE

GREENWAY IN THE CITY, IT

WOULD BE EASY TO EXPAND THIS

OUT, PUT A SET OF BIKES

AT DIFFERENT PARKS SO IT'S EASY

TO HOP ON ONE AND GO

FOR A RIDE.

>> REPORTER: THESE BIKES COST

SEVERAL THOUSANDS

DOLLARS APIECE.

RIDERS SAY IT'S SMALL PRICE TO

PAY FOR THE JOY THEY

BRING.

>> SOMETIMES THERE ARE DAYS

WHEN SHE'S A LITTLE LESS

ENGAGED IN THE WORLD.

WHEN WE TAKE THIS BIKE RIDE, AT

THE END OF THAT BIKE

RIDE, SHE IS FULLY ENGAGED FOR

THE REST OF THE DAY.

>> REPORTER: GOOD INVESTMENT,

HUH?

.

>> GREAT INVESTMENT, NO

QUESTION.

>> REPORTER: BRIAN SHRADER,

WRAL NEWS, WAKE FOREST.

>> THE CITY'S PARKS AND

RECREATION DEPARTMENT TOLD

WRAL IT SUPPORTS RESTIN'S

PROJECT.

IT WOULD BE PRIVATELY FUNDED.

RESTIN IS LOG FOR VOLUNTEERS

WHO ARE LOOKING TO

PEDDLE.

WE HAVE A LINK IN THE STORY

WHERE YOU CAN SIGN UP.

© WRAL