By Toby Bartlett

I often write about sustainability, but this time, I’m not talking about compost bins or carbon offsets. What could be more sustainable than this: no fuel, no emissions, no waste: just volunteer-powered tricycles, legs doing the work, and hearts steering the mission.

Welcome to Portland Wheelers! Right here in Scarborough, it’s a story rolling right through our neighborhoods, trails, and seaside streets.

Singing in the Key of Joy

John Grew didn’t expect to be singing that day or any day, for that matter. He was embarking on a ride lined up with a center for children with severe disabilities. He was a “Pilot” to a 12-year-old who looked distressed as the trike set off and he was trying to figure out how to help her settle in for the ride. A staff member called out: “She likes it when people sing.”

Now, John isn’t what you’d call a trained vocalist. But he started in with whatever song came to mind. Off-key or not, it worked. The girl calmed down. She smiled. And together, they rolled forward. “I felt such great satisfaction that perhaps through my small act – and less than melodic singing – I had made a small difference in this girl’s day,” he later said. “That is what Portland Wheelers is all about.”

Biking Transformed

Founded in 2015, Portland Wheelers is a nonprofit that brings the outdoors and a good dose of delight to people who can’t ride a bike on their own. Using custom-built, adaptive tricycles, trained volunteers called “Pilots” pedal passengers called “Wheelers” on joyrides through local neighborhoods, parks, and trails.

Wheelers include seniors in memory care, adults with limited mobility, and children with physical and developmental challenges. For many, it’s their first time outside in weeks. For others, it’s a chance to move, connect, and simply be part of the world again.

Their Scarborough partners include The Enclave, Scarborough Terrace, Maine Veteran’s Home, Pine Point Center near the marsh, and even, in past seasons, Scarborough Public Schools. Wheelers at Piper Shores, just down Route 77, enjoy rides out to Higgins Beach, often stopping to watch the waves roll in. Each location has its own set of scenic, well-loved routes.

We try to create experiences,” John said. “Stopping to watch the birds, petting a passing dog on a walk with their owner, seeing flowers in bloom… even spotting a turtle laying her eggs along the Eastern trail. Little moments that turn into big memories.” The rides are free. The trikes are people-powered. The impact? Anything but small.

Pedaling Past Barriers

Rides take place from May through October, and every route is designed to be safe, scenic, and accessible. Pilots complete a four-hour training and commit to at least one ride a month, though many find themselves coming back far more often.

Each Pilot completes safety and riding protocol training before they begin, and rides include “Safeties” on regular bicycles who help navigate and ensure safety. Every ride is human-powered with Pilots pedaling adaptive trikes designed for safety, comfort, and the best view possible. For extra challenging routes or hills, the trikes have a gentle electric assist built right in, but it’s still the volunteer doing the steering, braking, and most of the effort.

It’s exercise, yes, but it’s also therapy, connection, and good old-fashioned fun. Some bring along harmonicas. Some wear silly hats. Some just show up with good intentions and strong legs.

Powering Community…Literally

Today, Portland Wheelers boasts more than 130 volunteers, but it started small: just a handful of passionate people, a few trikes, and a lot of hope.

“People who do this kind of thing are good people,” John said simply. “They like connecting. They like helping. And it shows.”

In keeping with Portland Wheelers’ values (and Scarborough’s own growing spirit of green living), the organization’s entire operation leans sustainable:

• The rides are human-powered.

• The transport vans, used to carry trikes between towns, are electric.

• Even the organizational systems, from van loading to volunteer coordination, have been refined over time to minimize waste, maximize efficiency, and keep every trike rolling.

As John noted, “Over the years, we’ve just learned what works. Together.”

Portland Wheelers has grown steadily over the years, partnering with more than 40 organizations across Southern Maine. From assisted living centers and special education schools to adult day programs and memory care units, their trikes are a welcome sight.

They’ve also expanded their range to sites across the region, including Scarborough as well as Brunswick, Freeport, Westbrook, and beyond.

The Unexpected Gift of Volunteering

For John, who joined as a volunteer in 2017, the experience has been unexpectedly transformative. “I knew I’d be helping someone else,” he said, “but I didn’t realize how much it would help me.”

More than anything, Portland Wheelers’ Scarborough rides reconnect people, not just to the outdoors, but to each other. Volunteers take the time to learn about their Wheelers: a former scientist who still loves birdwatching, a lifelong gardener who lights up passing a neighbor’s flowers, a memory care resident who cheers like a kid every time his trike picks up speed.

“You just try to start a conversation and see where it goes,” John said. “Sometimes you get full stories. Sometimes you just get a smile. Either way, it’s a gift.” It’s a connection to the ocean, to the trail, to sunlight, to simple pleasure. And it’s happening right here in Scarborough.

A Nearly Perfect System

There’s a lot to love about this model. It’s affordable (rides are free). It’s accessible (the organization meets people where they are). It’s sustainable (completely human-powered). And perhaps most importantly, it’s built entirely on kindness and consistency.

There are no gimmicks. No buzzwords. Just people giving their time and leg power to help others feel alive and connected. And in a world increasingly driven by tech and disconnect, that’s a rare kind of power.

Looking Ahead: The Road Keeps Going

As Portland Wheelers heads into its 10th season, the organization hopes to bring even more rides, and more smiles, to Scarborough.

They’re always looking for new volunteers. You don’t need to be an athlete. You don’t need to be a chatterbox. You certainly don’t need to sing (although John might argue it’s a nice bonus). You just need to care, and maybe know how to appreciate a good breeze, a better view, and a great story unfolding along the trail.

Because whether you’re pedaling to a beach, chatting with a veteran on a sunny trail, or singing your heart out to calm a nervous kid, what you’re really doing is making the world feel a little more connected. And there’s nothing more easily sustainable than that.

Toby Bartlett is a Scarborough resident and freelance writer with over 30 years of experience. Learn more at WordsAndIdeas.com.