What is a bicycle that would be good for a handicapped child to ride?

Question

I would like something that would be relatively safe for a child with epilepsy to ride. Maybe even a three wheeler or a tandem bike that I could help her ride with. Where could I get something like this?

Answer 1

Go for a recumbent trike. Three wheels and low height makes falling a non-issue, especially in the event of a siezure and the stability inspires confidence. Don't get a regular upright trike: they are tricky to ride at first and are easy to tip.

There are several inexpensive recumbent kid's trikes out there, from over-grown Big Wheels to cheap toys. The only decent ones are made by KMX, in England, which makes kid-specific trikes that are true multi-speed cycles, from inexpensive beginner models to trick stunt trikes.

You don't say how old she is, but these are great for kids from about seven or eight on up. For older kids you have lots of choices from manufacturers of adult trikes.

Answer 2

You don't say how old.  If she is young a tandem recumbent would probably be best.  If she can ride alone a trike would be a good idea, because of its inherent stability.

I have a niece who suffers from epilepsy and also has cerebral palsy and she is just not stable enough to safely sit on a conventional bicycle.

They are expensive, but you can even find tandems that have a recumbent style seat in the front and a standard bicycle type "stoker" setup in the rear.  I see every imaginable combination of these each year riding across Iowa on RAGBRAI.

I've put some links below that might be helpful.

It's really good of you to think of helping this child in this way.  I once rode a blind young man 100 miles on the back of my tandem and he told me it was the most fun he'd had since he lost his sight.

Ben

Answer 3

Three wheeler with a helmet and knee-elbow pads