We are a group of disabled people. Our disability is recognized by medicine as a considerable degree of disability. Kinga, Mateusz, and me – Jacek. We all have cerebral palsy, involuntary movements and tetraparesis. Basically, physically we’re infants with an above average IQ.

In our everyday life we have computers and are fully functional IT specialists.  Kinga attended Informational technology studies and graduated with Master’s Degree, so she’s big shot M.A. now. She lives in Biała, right in the middle of the Notec Forest, a truly wonderful land. I graduated from Secondary School of Economics with Principal’s Honor Roll and I also have an ECDL certificate i.e. European Computer Driving License certificate. I live in Warsaw, and so does Mateusz, graduate of Academy of Special Education (holder of Master’s Degree, very good knowledge of English, good knowledge of Hungarian). Paweł lives in Szczecin, no not the one by the sea but the one near Łódź. He lives in the countryside. He’s a self-taught computer wiz and an Internet expert. Oh, and he’s also the poster boy of the Polish Tourist Society, he appears on their banners.

Aside from computer science we have one more thing in common, our love for bikes and bike-related tourism. We wish to imbue everyone with our passion, irrespective of their age, health condition, political views, or of how fat their valet is.

Due to our disability we cannot use the traditional single-track vehicles. Each of us has learned about the usability of such products the hard way and came to the only reasonable conclusion. Bikes for disabled people must be “special”.  They can’t be constructed by handymen in basements out of some bits and pieces thrown together. Above all they have to be functional, tailor-made for a given disability and safe. Oh, and unfailing, of course, otherwise if some part breaks down while we’re on the road, we may as well just pull over and cry our eyes out.

“Von Drais Fest” – Sunday in Achern

Fortunately for us, we don’t have such problems. So far my dad and I have done over 12.000 km on our three-wheeled tandem “Captain Duo”. Paweł has so far done nearly 5.000 km on his “Relax”. Trouble-free, well except for a punctured tire and worn-out chains. Kinga and Mateusz are just getting used to their “Relaxes”, so I’ll omit their opinion for now. Let them enjoy the thrill of the ride and cover as much distance as they can. Those who up until now had viewed the world from a wheelchair, know what I’m talking about.

Recently, thanks to the invitation of the management of the “Draisin” company from Achern (Baden-Wurttemberg), the manufacturer of our three-wheeled bikes, we had the opportunity to see with our own eyes the equipment and the people who bring joy to the disabled people irrespective of where they live by manufacturing tailor-made bikes for wide range of disabilities. Our visit coincided with the “Von Dreis Fest” an annual gathering of “draisinners” (people who use vehicles designed and manufactured by the Draisin company) from all over Europe. The gathering was traditionally organized on the last Sunday of September and as usual representatives of both sexes and various ages with wide range disabilities showed up on their therapeutic bikes. Against all appearances it wasn’t a rally of the association of disabled people execrating their fate and luck but it rather was a joyful and optimistic rendezvous of bikers. Maybe a bit different with visible impairment of locomotion organs, post hemorrhage and with lots of other injuries – it all didn’t matter. Nobody paid any attention to our disability affirming us in our conviction that disability in Achern or in other German towns and cities is perceived as something completely natural.  We haven’t noticed any unhealthy reaction or interest – the same goes for neighboring Strasbourg.

The four of us were the only representatives of Poland (plus our parents as our caretakers, of course). Well, I guess that’s a start  considering that there aren’t many Draisin bikes in Poland and their users are anonymous scattered all over the country. I think that’s a shame. It would be great if we could create a Polish “draisiners’” club (perhaps with the help of PTTK - Polish Tourist Society?), not only for  exchanging views and experiences but also  for making friends, organizing bike escapades, rallies and so on and so forth. If our Western neighbors pulled it off, why should Poland be any different?

“Stieg doch um!” – Change to…

While in Achern we had the opportunity to see all of the company’s products (we were even allowed to take some of the bikes for a test drive). Our able-bodied peers wouldn’t even be able to imagine the bikes we’ve seen.

“We design and manufacture bikes for all kinds of disabilities”, says Martin Martin Bombik, the company’s managing director, co-owner and leading constructor. “From therapeutic bikes for kids to specialized bikes for people with impairment of locomotion organs, muscles, post hemorrhage patients, epileptics, post amputation patients, blind people, little people and people with many other impairments. These are our proprietary solutions certified by medical institutes inspected with safety in mind. Because we take full responsibility for our products, each bike is designed and manufactured individually, often with the use of advanced technological solutions and electronics”. (You can read more on the Draisin bikes at www.draisin.com).

It’s worth mentioning that Herr Bombik is our fellow countryman who left Poland 25 years ago went to Hamburg to attend technical studies and stayed in Germany for good. He’s been involved in the production of bikes for disabled people for 15 years now. He has made many disabled people happy and continues to do so with the company’s motto at the back of his mind “Steig doch um” – “Change to… (change your wheelchair into a bike). For this, in our humble opinion he should be awarded with honorary doctorate of some renowned medical school.

Three-wheeled tour around Baden-Baden and Strasbourg

The distance between Achern and Baden-Baden, the world renowned health resort is about 25km and the distance Achern to French Strasbourg, home of the European Parliament is about 40 km. To be so close to such famous places and not go there – especially on wheels, would be unforgivable.

I will not describe here what we saw because words cannot describe it. One thing however must be stressed here. Not only are these cities beautiful,  rich with historical monuments and teeming with life, but also very accessible for people with disabilities, even for those on bikes. The handicap sign opens the door to virtually any place and the number of people who are willing to help is overwhelming. So one can plan a bike escapade to Baden-Baden or Strasbourg without fear that something might go wrong. Just remember it’s not a one day trip. We’ve made that mistake and now we regret it.

Oh, and one more thing. While in Baden-Wurttemberg and Alsace, we were able to see how disabled bikers are treated in traffic. In places where there were no bicycle paths and we had to use the main road, we felt 100% safe. Every driver would let up on the accelerator, keep the safe distance and let us through at the intersection and so on. No nervous gestures, no blood curdling looks, no symphony of car horns telling us to speed up. We were shocked.  When is Poland going to be like that?

Jacek Paciorkowski

Photos by: Ryszard Koza