3Wheel Therapy offers free adaptive rides on Ohio trails

Patrick and Ruth Bendel opened a new branch of 3Wheel Therapy in Dayton on July 8, 2026. The nonprofit provides free guided rides on adaptive tricycles for residents who cannot operate standard bicycles. The couple, both avid cyclists, started the local chapter to give more people access to Ohio’s extensive trail network.

In the three months since the launch, the organization has completed 96 rides. Volunteers have covered nearly 300 miles of the state’s more than 1,500 miles of paved bike paths. Rides have taken place in Lebanon, Miamisburg, and downtown Dayton. Bendel noted that the local trail system is particularly well connected, with multiple routes available in the Xenia area and links to the Ohio to Erie Trail.

On Oct. 23, two senior residents from Sycamore Glen Senior Living in Miamisburg took their first rides with the group. The participants were Lois Welsh, 99, and Verna Briggs, 72. They rode on $13,000 adaptive tricycles that feature a removable wheelchair mount in the front. The bikes allow riders with physical disabilities or vision impairments to join the experience safely.

Jim Foerster, a volunteer who has operated the tricycles for most of the season, said the group relies on word of mouth to recruit new riders. He noted that people often sign up after seeing the volunteers on the trails. Foerster said the program accepts riders with both physical and mental disabilities who have never been able to ride a bike before.

Welsh, who has macular degeneration and glaucoma, said Bendel described the scenery along the route so she could participate fully. "I'm just so happy that I was able to do this," Welsh said. "So at 99, I got a ride on a bicycle." Briggs said her first ride attracted attention from people watching from the tennis courts at Sycamore Park. One observer wanted to sign up her 90-year-old mother, while another expressed interest for a wheelchair user who was an athlete.

Kimberly Porter, director of resident lifestyles at Sycamore Glen, said the facility has partnered with 3Wheel Therapy multiple times. She said many residents enjoy outdoor activities but feel they are no longer able to participate. "So this is a perfect way for us to be able to say, 'hey, you could still do it. You just sit down and enjoy the ride,'" Porter said. She reported that residents kept smiling for an hour after returning to the facility.

The program serves clients ranging from age five to 99. Bendel said the group has even taken a rider who was on a ventilator for a 40-minute trip. The rider, named Gracie, came off the ventilator before the ride and did well during the outing. The Dayton branch aims to double its activity next season, increasing the number of trips from 100 to 200.

3Wheel Therapy originated in North Carolina with board president Kenneth Kohler. Bendel said he met the founder while his group from Akron was visiting during the winter. They shared a desire to use retirement to help others who cannot ride traditional bikes. The Dayton operation has recruited 32 volunteers so far.

Operating the service costs approximately $80,000 per year. The Bendels spent close to $28,000 to purchase two initial adaptive tricycles. They have secured funds through grant writing and support from friends and family but need additional resources to cover ongoing operational costs. Foerster plans to volunteer again next season, noting that riders often want to go faster and are disappointed when the ride ends.

The biking season is ending, but interest remains high. Briggs is eager to return to the trails for future rides. The organization is currently seeking new volunteers and funding to expand its reach across the region.