About
Portland Wheelers provides experiences for people unable to ride a bike by themselves, getting them outdoors for therapeutic recreation, socialization, adventure, and fun. Our mission: make outdoor adapted biking fun!
Program Details
Founded in 2015, we are a 501(c)(3) volunteer-led nonprofit with a small yet incredibly mighty staff who form the heart of Portland Wheelers, which has experienced a 30% growth in 2024. With our fleet of 11 trikes and 2 E-Transit vans, 150 Volunteers visit over 50 sites per season, where they pilot pedal our trikes, engage with our wheelers (program participants), and share with them the experience of our community on three wheels. They bring miles of smiles to our wheelers.
From May through October, we ride all weekdays, mornings, and afternoons. On frequent Saturdays, we ride with our Come To Us (CTU) program. All Portland Wheelers’ rides are group rides with at least 2 volunteers—we refer to these groups of trikes and safeties as pods, which always stay together as a unit. We also encourage wheeler families and friends to bring a bike and ride along with the pod.
Before the ride, wheelers are assisted by staff, family, or friends to transfer onto the trikes, which carry water and supplies that may be needed during a ride. The wheeler is then secured in the front seat with a four-point seat/shoulder harness, and footrests. Each wheeler is also provided a bike helmet and offered sunglasses and a blanket.
Services Offered
Our main program is offered at residential facilities, schools, day programs, and other organizations to provide our ride service to their communities. We show up at these facilities and the staff at the facility coordinates the wheelers. We then take rides in the surrounding neighborhoods or parks.
Our Come To Us (CTU) program is designed for individuals who may be living at home or not at one of our ride partner facilities or day programs. We accommodate by meeting these individuals at ride locations.
Our newest program is the Floating Fleet—unlike our other programs where we take the trikes to a location, this fleet of 3 trikes are stored remotely in Brunswick, Maine, where a program similar to CTU operates.
Contact Karen Schilling, Board President president@portlandwheelers.org (207) 400-9370 Portland Wheelers
Populations Served
Portland Wheelers provides adapted bike rides to people unable to ride a bike by themselves but would love to go for a bike ride, whom we call wheelers. A wheeler sits securely in the front seat of our adapted tricycle. Our wheelers are the people we serve—the ones we love to see smile!
Our wheelers live in residential facilities or at home, attend special education programs in the school system, or participate in adult day programs. We bring our trikes to these wheelers and meet at fun locations where individuals and their families or caregivers can join us for scenic rides.
Staff Composition
Program Manager — full time, oversees daily operations, works with seasonal staff, coordinates volunteers, interacts with ride partners, and supports the entire Portland Wheelers community.
Program Coordinator — part-time, supports the program in all areas, with a focus on scheduling and communication with ride partners and volunteers.
Seasonal staff — transports our trikes to ride sites, assists at ride sites, and helps with other administrative tasks.
Part-time mechanic — maintains our fleet of 11 adapted tricycles.
Cost to Participate
Our program is offered 100% free of charge.
