Ian Rose-Innes, North Shore (Vancouver) Cycling Without Age

 While visiting Vancouver enroute an Alaskan cruise, I decided at the last minute to make contact with local CWA chapters.  I found two, one of which was just across False Creek from the hotel we were staying at downtown Vancouver on Hornby Street.

I sent out emails to both via their contact information on their websites, both hosted by CyclingWithougAge.org, leaving my contact information.  Next morning I got a call from a deep voice identifying himself as "Ian from Cycling Without Age".  I quickly recognized him as Ian Rose-Innes, the driving force behind the North Shore chapter of CWA and found out that he was going to be out all morning doing rides and other related work for the affiliate.  He promised to contact me when he was heading back to the 'Shipyards' a trendy neighbourhood on the north shore of Vancouver harbour where they store their trailer with two trishaws in a secured underground parking garage leased to them by the owner of the Shipyards.

Right on time @2:30p I had a WhatsApp message from Ian letting me know he was heading back to the Shipyards and would be there around 3pm if I wanted to meet.  Not knowing exactly how long it would take to get there and how much time he may have to spend with me, I messaged back asking those questions.  I didn't get a reply for the next half hour which put me in the precarious position of having to change evening plans on our last night in Vancouver for a meeting that could probably be done over the phone.  Ian sounded relieved at the suggestion as he had to catch a bus and then cycle part of the way home.  We chatted briefly until his bus arrived and then a lot more after he got home.

He was forthcoming with the set up of his program, which depended on its affiliation with Silver Harbour Centre, a senior and 55+ activity centre that had a dynamic director who welcomed Ian's suggestion of the program.  Although a successful relationship now after being in operation for 4 years it wasn't Ian's first choice.. that being another cyclocentric group which was already working with some senior programs but were not keen on adding CWA to their program.

Ian has spearheaded the fundraising for the purchase of four trishaws and two 12 foot trailers each of which carry two trishaws to their riding partners.  The trails around North Shore involve some steeper inclines which challenge the motors of the AMI trishaws.  Ian has created a document and uploaded it to The Hood, a CWA forum, on selecting appropriate trishaws based on the proposed trail inclines that may be encountered by pilots.  

Silver Harbour takes care of the insurance costs covering pilots, passengers and equipment.  Through the program, they have access to local politicians to help smooth out administrative bumps.  Ian has created a robust program with positions of administration that do not depend only on him if he becomes unavailable.  Their structure, currently with a few positions available, have completed 45 monthly meetings and can be seen on their website.

Through the charitable status of Silver Harbour, North Shore CWA is able to issue tax receipts for their larger donations, two recent ones able to cover the costs of two additional European trishaws.

By the time we left Vancouver, I had not heard back from the Vancouver CWA group.  Ian had warned me that they are all quite busy since they are all actively employed at this time.