Affectionately named Bessie and Bertie, the trishaws – specially designed three-wheeled bikes – are set for retirement after eight years of service to the community, during which they have completed more than 11,000km of combined use.
The initiative is run by charity Cycling Without Age Musselburgh.
A fundraising push in now on to keep the wheels in motion, with the hope that the new trishaws might be on the road by May next year.
Co-leads Susanne Crichton, Nicola Dargo and Lorraine Jackson said that the plans were to future-proof the bikes for the next “10-plus years”.
They said: “Our current fleet of bikes consist of two standard trishaws named Bessie and Bertie and one wheelchair-accessible trike joined the crew in 2019 named Bobby.
“Bessie and Bertie are the two trishaws that require replacement and will be retired once we have our new upgraded models.
“Our hope is that they will be repurposed to be used as back-up trishaws within the wider Cycling Without Age Scotland (CWAS) family.
“The trishaws were all named via a public vote and we would hope to engage our 3,000-plus social media followers again when our new trishaws are in place.”
The two trishaws batteries are not holding the same amount of charge and the bikes also require “constant running repairs” to keep them on the road.
“The motor system on both of our trishaws is now obsolete and moving to the latest model of trishaws will benefit them with updated and more powerful brakes, an up-to-date motor and battery system which, alongside improvements to the overall design and strength of the bike, will provide more power, better comfort and improved ride characteristics for both the passengers and pilot,” the team added.
“We are working very hard behind the scenes applying for grant funding; however, there is a lot of competition out there, so unfortunately no successful bid so far.
“We have created a JustGiving page which has already seen some generous donations and we have reached out to our followers to consider fundraising on our behalf.”
The group has been invited to fundraise at local events featuring Musselburgh Rugby Club, Musselburgh Horticultural Society and the town’s gala day.
The team said: “CWA allows people who are less mobile, have physical and/or mental challenges or are living in isolation or just want company to get out and enjoy fresh air, nature, being with others, sharing stories, having a giggle or sitting in a comfortable silence while being on a bike. There is no better feeling than having ‘the wind in your hair!”
The rides, which take about one hour and are offered all year round, take three routes in Musselburgh – the Promenade/Big Mussel, the Grove and the Lagoons/Sewall. The group averages about 280 rides per year.
The public can support the campaign via the JustGiving page for Cycling Without Age Scotland Musselburgh. For more information on ways to support the fundraising, email the group at CWAMusselburgh@gmail.com
Suggestions include direct donations, nominating the group as an employer’s charity partner/charity of the month and holding a specific fundraising event in aid of the trishaw replacement.