Dax Canty, executive director of North Woods Place Assisted Living in Escanaba, sits on the left side of the side-by-side bike with a resident during Wednesday’s adaptive bike event. Residents of the assisted living community were greeted by a wide-variety of adaptive bikes curtesy of the Marquette-based organization SPAR, or Single Point for Activities and Recreation. SPAR is a health and wellness program that works to provide inclusive and adaptable recreation to all individuals of the Upper Peninsula. (Escanaba Daily Press photo)

ESCANABA — Residents of North Woods Place Assisted Living in Escanaba and local senior citizens were treated to a day of outdoor recreational fun recently. Members of SAIL Disability Network of the Upper Peninsula, a disability organization based in Marquette, provided adaptive bikes for individuals to test out in the parking lot of the facility. With the bikes being a big hit with residents last year, faculty at North Woods knew they had to invite SAIL U.P. back again.

“This is just a great experience for our residents,” Dax Canty, executive director of North Woods Place Assisted Living, said. “Some of them haven’t rode a bike since they were young, so we just want them to get outside and enjoy.”

Founded in 1988, SAIL U.P., or Superior Alliance for Independent Living, has been serving and collaborating with disabled individuals all across the Upper Peninsula since its inception. From helping people develop independent living skills to providing support services to those in need, SAIL U.P. has continuously supported and advocated for equal access in all aspects of every day life, including outdoor recreation.

SAIL U.P. provides services through its year-round Single Point for Activities and Recreation Program (SPAR). SPAR provides inclusive and adaptable equipment for a variety of indoor and outdoor activities. From bowling balls to kayaks, and even cross-country skis, SOAR works to ensure that everyone, no matter their physical capabilities, can get involved in recreation.

Jack Vanderlught, health and recreation coordinator for SPAR, said the organization’s goal is to help promote a healthy and balanced lifestyle through the promotion of inclusion.

“I will work with anybody who wants to come and use adaptive recreation,” Vanderlught said. “I work the the ISDs, school districts, group homes, and assisted living homes. We do all kinds of stuff.”

Residents at North Woods gathered outside their building as Vanderlught began to unload the selection of adaptive bikes he brought for them to test out. Vanderlught’s bicycles were styled to provide stability for riders, available options varying from a standard tricycle to a side-by-side bike, which is two traditional bikes that are connected by a platform.

A big hit with residents, however, was the wheelchair bike. This bike is divided into two sections: The back-end has a standard bicycle seat with pedals while the front-end replicates a wheelchair seat. In combining these two sections, wheelchair bound residents were able to peruse the parking lot as Vanderlught and employees of North Woods pedaled them around. Although he only brought a handful of bikes to this event, Vanderlught has a much wider selection available to interested parties at SPAR’s central location in Marquette.

“I brought bikes today that are the most accessible for seniors, and with the population I am working with today the wheelchair bike will obviously be very popular,” Vanderlught said. “But this is by far not an exhaustive list of the bikes we have. We have about 20 more in our garage [in Marquette].”

Adaptive bicycles and tricycles have been designed to accommodate those with a range of physical or developmental disabilities, from cerebral palsy to visual impairment. The bikes, which are built to facilitate mobility and therapy for individuals, also provide riders with a sense of fun and freedom. For most of the riders on Wednesday, this was their first time riding a bike in several years.

Richard Blixt, resident at North Woods Place Assisted Living, was first in line to test out the adaptive bikes. Blixt, who is 90 years-old, was looking forward to riding the same electric bike he had rode at last year’s event.

“I didn’t know they were bring [the adaptive bikes] back, so when they told me I was like ‘Really?,” Blixt said. “I enjoy it a lot. I don’t have a bike here, but I would really like to have one.”

Blixt’s favorite bike was a three-wheeled, level two electric bike. While it does not have a throttle, it has electric assist capabilities. So as Blixt began to pedal around the parking lot, the bike’s battery would help move him along. The electric bike, according to Vanderlught, is great for those who tire easily. While other residents swapped between the available bikes, Blixt continued to do laps around them on his electric bike.

“For [Blixt], this is a big event. He just loves that bike,” Canty said.

While only around 10 residents gave the adaptive bikes a go, many of those living at North Woods came outside to watch the event. Those riding the bikes would wave to their neighbors as they cruised along. With COVID still a concern for those at North Woods, this was a major event that allowed residents to get outside in a group setting and have fun.

“We are just trying to give [the residents] an experience that they have never had before, so it is mostly curiosity and happiness here today” Canty said. “COVID has been hard on them, so this is an opportunity for them to get out of their apartments and try something new.”