MANSFIELD — Laughter, fresh air and a little adventure rolled into Primrose Retirement Community at 1301 Millsboro Road Wednesday afternoon as residents enjoyed their Happy Spokes ride.
When Karen Deason, who just turned 84, climbed aboard for the first ride of the day, her reaction said it all.
“It was great,” she said with a smile. “A very good time.”
For Deason, she said gatherings like this offer more than a ride — they provide a chance to get outside, laugh and enjoy the company of friends and neighbors.
Happy Spokes, a program orchestrated by United Way of Knox County, brought all the fun to Richland County for the first time.
The Happy Spokes program offers free trishaw rides to individuals with limited mobility. Trishaws are three-wheeled bikes that carry passengers in a large seat while another person pedals it.
Rolling into Richland County
Walt Lewis, resource navigator at United Way of Knox County said the program may seem a little disorganized because the idea was just presented at the beginning of the year.
Along with the two trishaws that were at the event, there is also a wheelchair-accessible model that was just received the same day in Knox County.
“We are proud to say United Way became an affiliate of Cycling Without Age on April 4,” Lewis said. “All three trishaws have already been fully funded due to all our connections.”
He added they will be having programs to take riders out on their trails in Knox County.
When Jack Bargahiser of Primrose Retirement Community read about the Happy Spokes program, he decided to learn more about getting involved and bringing it to Richland County.
Bargahisser contacted Joe Porter, program coordinator for mobility management at Knox Public Health, who arranged a meeting with Lewis.
Bargahiser said the group worked to raise money to purchase two bikes and a trailer to transport them. During their discussions, he agreed to invest in the program if it was brought to Richland County once a month.
“It does not have to be at Primrose,” he said. “They will go anywhere in Richland County, one day a month. This is to try and see if there is a need in the community.”
Bargahiser noted that many of the local facilities are near bike trails, which would benefit residents with these visits.
“Look how many facilities there are like these in Richland County,” he said. “I think there is a need, but so far there has not been a ton of support for them in Richland County.
“I live here at Primrose, and I see these people sitting in the sun who cannot move due to mobility issues — they can’t go anywhere,” he added. “Wouldn’t it be nice for them to be able to get out and let the wind blow through their hair?”
Bargahiser added the program includes people of all ages. He said young kids with mobility issues can also benefit from this program.
Happy Spokes boosts mobility and independence
Allison Campbell, executive director for Primrose Retirement Community, said Bargahiser has pursued this project for a long time. He reached out asking how Primrose could get involved, she said.
“We were very excited to have everyone here and welcome it,” Campbell said.
Seeing residents smile with fresh air on their faces makes this event especially rewarding, she said.
“Our motto at Primrose is ‘this is living,’ and this whole project aligns perfectly with what we try to do here,” she said. “It promotes their independence, allows them to involve themselves in the community and helps them live the best life they can.”
Mary Bolin, executive hospice care consultant at SouthernCare, said her team has worked with the Bargahiser family before and eagerly participated in the event as a community partner with Primrose.
She said the program improves quality of life, allowing patients with limited mobility — whether in end-of-life care, assisted living or independent living — to stay active, enjoy favorite activities and connect with the community.
“Today perfectly demonstrates how this event brings people together,” she added. “We have people here from Knox and Richland County.”
“I think this idea is going to explode,” Bolin said. “I think people will hear about it, and it is going to be a big deal.”
(Photos from the Happy Stokes event at Primrose Retirement Community. Credit: Hannah Martin)
