Ole Kassow, who developed the CWA idea with Dorthe Pederson, says Danes learn to ride a bike almost as soon as they learn to walk and most people love cycling and moving effortlessly.

The Danes use all types of bikes to get about and carry things. They have cargo bikes to carry and deliver goods.

A couple of bike manufacturers have added an electric motor, battery and a seat to their cargo models and so it is now easy to carry passengers.

Cycling Without Age (CWA) uses volunteers as pilots to take seniors who cannot ride themselves, or those with less mobility, and giving them a safe cycling experience.

I came across CWA a couple of years ago through Bicycle Network. (And, just to be clear, it is not to be confused with that other wonderful CWA, the Country Women's Association.)

When I heard that Dorthe Pederson was in Melbourne I contacted her, and she offered to come to Bendigo and we met up with a few like-minded people.

Over the last couple of years we have borrowed a trishaw a few times for the Easter Fair, and at retirement villages.

The passengers have loved the experience. They said they felt like royalty, being chauffeured along and getting lots of smiles and waves.

The staff commented that their clients seemed excited by the experience and spoke about it often after the event. The volunteer pilots love the conversations and many new friendships were formed.

It's particularly rewarding because the more senior passengers often talk about their memories. One lady who had emigrated from Europe spoke about coming to Australia when she was a young woman.

She reminisced about being a passenger on a ship coming through Port Philip Heads and the ship stopped near the Quarantine Station at Point Nepean. The migrants who had come from a farm had to disembark and be fumigated. She came from a city and so did not have to suffer that experience.

The beauty of CWA is that it extends the joy and benefits of cycling to a greater part of the community.

I enjoy Bendigo's strong bicycle culture, where lots of bike riders volunteer time and money and we could offer cycling to a wider group of ages across Bendigo.

I help out occasionally at the Free Wheeling Fun shed and FWF have helped raise some money towards buying a trishaw. A few in the cycling community have expressed interest in volunteering in CWA.

If you want to volunteer, support our fundraising or who just want to know more, visit Bendigo's CWA Facebook page at www.facebook.com/Bendigo.CWA/ or contact me on 0417 331 990.