Into life with the rickshaw

Into life with the rickshaw

Who says you have to pedal yourself to cycle around town? With the help of rickshaws, senior citizens from the Wilhelm Löhe senior center in Bamberg were able to experience their hometown in a whole new way. The Adalbert-Raps-Stiftung has donated 15 such rickshaws throughout Upper Franconia. www.raps-stiftung.de

Kulmbach, June 21, 2024

Part of life again

It was a real experience! With a total of seven rickshaws, partly sponsored by the Adalbert Raps Foundation, eleven senior citizens from the Wilhelm Löhe Senior Citizens' Center set off on a big rickshaw ride through Bamberg's old town on 15 June 2024. First they went through the green areas of the Hain, then on towards Untere Mühlbrücke, Dominikanerstraße and the lively ObereSandstraße, until they reached the first stop at Café Müller inAustraße. "I know Bamberg inside out, but I haven't seen it this fresh and friendly for a long time," enthused Mathilde Reich, who had made herself comfortable in one of the rickshaws. The many flowers and the people, and everyone had made room for them and waved. "We often go for walks in the grove, but we don't normally take these paths because they are too difficult." Sitting next to her is Rosemarie Niehoff, who was particularly pleased that so many tourists were out and about in the city. "It's been a long time since I was last in the city, otherwise it's just doctor to doctor."

Sonja Schreyer hasn't visited the city center for even longer, "I don't think I've been there for five years." The idea of the tour was wonderful, she says, it was so nice to drive through the old town. Her fellow passenger Ursula Däubler is not a native of Bamberg, but originally comes from Swabia and moved here for her family. "I already know a lot of corners, but I hardly ever get out, we're usually out and about in the grove," she explains. "We just don't want to be a burden, but today was a great experience. You feel like you're part of life again."

Rickshaws are available for individual trips

Rickshaws are available in the various facilities for senior citizens to use in their everyday lives. Whether driven by volunteers or employees of the facilities, or by relatives who receive extra instruction. The rickshaws are intended to enable senior citizens to experience more of their surroundings and extend their range of movement. "With a car, you have to stay outside and can't go directly into the old town," says Rosemarie Niehoff. The rickshaw is a completely different story. "And it's a very pleasant ride, not at all strenuous."

The fact that they were also invited by Adalbert-Raps-Stiftung to enjoy coffee and cake in a central café in Bamberg's old town during the excursion was the icing on the cake for the senior citizens. After an excursion lasting more than three hours, the cheerful and beaming senior citizens arrived back at the Wilhelm Löhe Senior Citizens' Center. "It was great to get back into the city, a wonderful idea," said Ingrid Buresch, summing up the rickshaw ride. And everyone agreed: they want to use the rickshaws again, "now we've acquired a taste for them."

The second mayor was also there

Various locations around Bamberg took part in the rickshaw ride, including the Diakonisches Werk Bamberg-Forchheim, the Seehof-Blick senior center in Memmelsdorf, the Katharina von Bora senior center in Litzendorf, the Ebermannstadt senior citizens' association and Malteser Bamberg. The "Care Cruiser" rickshaw from the city of Bamberg (MitMachKlima project) was also there with Mayor Jonas Glüsenkamp. The senior citizens were also impressed by this, as such participation shows a certain amount of appreciation.