Weird Wheels
Weird Wheels showcases cycling for everyone in Portobello
Porty Community Energy’s P.A.T.H. (Porty Active Travel Hub) project is helping more people discover that cycling can be accessible, enjoyable and inclusive, regardless of age, ability or experience.
Supported through our People and Place programme, the team recently hosted a “Weird Wheels” community event on Portobello Prom to showcase a range of adapted, accessible and specialist cycles, including a newly acquired handcycle designed for wheelchair users and people with mobility challenges. The purpose of the event was to challenge perceptions of who cycling is for and demonstrate that there are many different ways to enjoy travelling by bike.
Creating opportunities for more people to cycle
A key focus of the event was introducing people to cycles they may not have seen before, including handcycles, cargo bikes, adapted bikes and tandems.
Porty Community Energy recently added a handcycle to its bike library. The handcycle attaches to a wheelchair, giving users greater independence and enabling them to travel more easily on roads and shared-use paths. The organisation wanted to raise awareness of the new addition while also encouraging local residents and families to try a wider range of cycling options.
The “Weird Wheels” event brought together local organisations, volunteers and community members for a day of activities, demonstrations and cycle trials, culminating in a colourful group ride through the centre of Portobello featuring an array of unusual and eye-catching bikes.
Community participation
The event attracted local residents and visitors, with people of all ages taking part.
Highlights included:
- Around 40 cyclists taking part in the community ride through Portobello.
- 11 people trying the new handcycle.
- More than 50 people testing a range of cargo bikes and adapted cycles throughout the day.
- Support from 20 volunteers who helped organise and deliver the event.
- Two performances of a short silent play exploring the history of the bicycle, watched by approximately 40 people.
The event also featured local partners including On Tandem, which showcased tandem bicycles used to support people with sight loss, and Thistle Foundation volunteers, who demonstrated adapted cycles that are normally less visible to the wider public.
One child watching the ride pass by remarked:
“Wow, look at all those bikes. Everyone has a different one.”
Another family, after trying a cargo bike together, commented:
“Who needs a car?”
The project’s Equal Footing Coordinator, who uses a wheelchair and handcycle, shared a favourite memory from the day:
“A small boy who saw us heading down the high street pointed and said ‘ZOOOM!'”
These moments captured the spirit of the event, highlighting how accessible cycling can be both practical and fun.
Supporting inclusive active travel
Through initiatives such as Weird Wheels, Porty Community Energy is helping to make active travel more inclusive by giving people the opportunity to see, try and experience different types of cycles first-hand.
By breaking down barriers and demonstrating that there is a bike to suit a wide range of needs and abilities, the project is helping more people feel confident about choosing cycling as part of everyday life.