Tandems are a great way to get people with disabilities, be they learning, visual or other physical difficulties, out cycling and benefits the whole family. We have been lucky to get tandems donated and are actively raising funds, so that we can lend them out to disabled stokers (the rear seat on a tandem). The original Charlotte’s Tandems is a registered charity in the United Kingdom. We operated as a branch of the UK charity for a while, but now Charlotte’s Tandems US is a independent service offered in the U.S. by Ability Cycling, incorporated in the State of Maryland. So if you would like to borrow a tandem please contact us at AbilityCycling@gmail.com. We have tandems, tag-alongs and helpers in Maryland, Northern VA ,Tidewater VA, Atlanta GA, Morgantown WV and Chicago IL. The Borrower collects and returns the bike. Rental is normally for one or two months and is free.
U.S. founders
Charlotte’s Tandems US was founded by members of two different clubs for blind and visually impaired cyclists in the Washington DC area to service a wider disabled community
Charlotte
Our namesake, Charlotte, lives in Gloucestershire England and has severe learning difficulties, severe autism, has erratic challenging behavior and is nonverbal. It is hard to keep her busy and happy but her parents (Kate and Alex) found that cycling was the best way. Progressing from trailer cycles to tandems, Charlotte loved it from the start and we’ve ridden many miles, without major problems. Her parents wanted to share their love of tandeming with others in their area, and starting with tandems donated by members of the UK Tandem Club started loaning bicycles out to 2010. Charlotte’s Tandems became a charity the following year. Charlotte and Alex are pictured to the left. In 2020, they supported a test operation in the US. Based on its success, Ability Cycling was incorporated in 2021 to run the Charlotte’s Tandems US program.
Links to the original Charlotte’s Tandems
https://www.facebook.com/groups/139839216034492
http://charlottestandems.weebly.com/
Legal
Charlotte’s Tandems US is a service of Ability Cycling, incorporated in the State of Maryland and registered as a 501(C)3 charity with the IRS. Donations made to Charlotte’ Tandems are tax deductible. Ability Cycling Inc. (Charlotte’s Tandems US) is separately incorporated and not affiliated with the original Charlotte’s Tandems in the UK, other that sharing a similar vision and goals