Pete Rides the Greenway with Help from Easterseals UCP

Pete is 22-years old and always wanted to learn how to ride a bike.

Pete tried to learn how to a ride a bike when he was very young. Says his Grandma Karen, “When Pete was 8-years old, he tried day after day but didn’t seem to have the balance. I guess he just wasn’t ready.” When Pete became a client of Easterseals UCP (ESUCP), he asked his Direct Service Provider, Lauri, for help. “Riding bikes is my all-time favorite thing to do, so I was on board right away,” says Lauri. ?

Pete and Lauri encountered a few challenges at the start of their adventure. First, Pete didn’t have a bike. Second, he lives in a very busy part of Raleigh which is not the safest place to learn how to ride a bike. After looking around for bike rentals, they soon met, Lori, the owner of Going My Way Greenway. Lori maintains a fleet of bikes and delivers bike rentals to parks across Raleigh. Lori met Pete and Lauri at a local park in east Raleigh.

“The first time we met Lori, I was worried I wouldn’t be able to do much at all,” Pete remembers. “Getting on and off the bike was hard. Getting going was hard. Lori showed me where to place the pedal and how to use the curb to push off and get started.”

Lori provided Pete with pointers and encouragement. That first day, Pete rode halfway across the parking lot—a big win!

A week later, Pete tried again. His next session, Pete could get on and off the bike with ease and was able to push off the curb. “Then I had to pedal and steer, says Pete. “I rode into the grass a few times.” This time he made it from the parking lot to the greenway. Pete was learning how to ride a bike!

The third time Pete rode the bike, Lauri and Lori encouraged him to ride up and down hills. “This time I learned to pedal hard going uphill and use my brakes going downhill,” says Pete. “Lauri took some video to show my family!”

Pete rode the longest distance during the final session with the bike rental. This session tested Pete’s ability to ride longer distances without a break. “I rode two miles to the river and two miles back,” says Pete.

“I am so proud of Pete,” says Lauri, ESUCP Direct Service Provider. “This was not easy for him, but he was willing to keep trying and achieve success!”

Pete now has a bike of his own. When we asked Pete what advice he would give to adults who can’t ride a bike yet, he responded, “It’s never too late to learn how to ride. There are people who are willing to help you. While it may be tough at the start, you can get it if you keep trying.”

Pete is a perfect example of the Going My Way Greenway moto, “You only regret the rides you didn’t take!” We are thrilled to see Pete going on more bike adventures and living his best life with the help of his ESUCP Direct Service Provider.

ABOUT EASTERSEALS UCP

Easterseals UCP is one of the largest non-profit service providers in North Carolina and Virginia dedicated to helping children, adults and families living with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities and mental health challenges live their best possible life. Each year, we support 20,000 families by delivering 9 million hours of direct services and a wide variety of life-changing programs in 140 different locations. Learn more about what we do.