Charlotte’s Tandems US provides free loan of tandem bicycles and other cycling equipment to those with physical or mental challenges to give them the sense of accomplishment, greater mobility, self-reliance and physical fitness that comes from cycling.  It is hard to understate the effect on someone who has largely been limited to their own neighborhood suddenly able to roam for miles.

Commercial tandem bicycle rentals at $60 to $80 per day are prohibitively expensive for folks who may take days to adjust to the idea and mechanics of cycling.

We are the U.S. incarnation of a highly impactful U.K. charity.  Our namesake, Charlotte, is a young lady from Gloucestershire who has autism and severe learning disabilities.  Since she could not bicycle on her own, her parents bought a tandem bicycle and found it greatly improved Charlotte’s outlook on life.  Charlotte’s parents shared their discovery with others but found the high price of tandems (or even tandem rentals) might stop people with physical or mental challenges or their families from attempting tandeming.  Additionally, they found a short, one or two-day rental inadequate for the gentle, gradual approach to beginning cycling needed by many challenged people, especially those with learning disabilities.  Their (and our) free rentals are 1-2 months long, sometimes longer based on waiting lists.
None of this is cheap.  We do rely on reconditioning donated used tandems, but some smaller or specialized bicycles will have to be purchased new.  Funds raised will meet the following needs

·         startup costs ($1600)

·         insurance ($5500 per year--but this is relatively constant as we grow)

·         reconditioning donated used tandems ($250 per bike)

·         training volunteer mechanics ($150 to $450 per mechanic)

·         purchase of at least two hard to find small tandems ($1500 per bike); special tandems like the one below start at $4000 (front seat can be set us as a hand cycle)

·         maintenance supplies (average $100/bike/year)

Asking for a lot, but we can successfully start operations at 1/3 of our goal.  More helps us grow and serve more folks.
Charlotte’s Tandems in the U.K. became a charity in 2011, offering one or two-month tandem rentals free of charge to qualifying individuals.  In 2020, a club of visually impaired cyclists in Northern Virginia ran a successful test as a “Helper Location” or local loan center for the U.K. charity.  Based on this successful introduction, we have now incorporated separately here in the U.S. (as Ability Cycling Inc.) and applied for 501(C)3 non-profit organization status.  While we still share a program name and broad goals with the U.K. group, Charlotte’s Tandems US is part of an independent corporation.  We will start 2021 operations with one Helper Location and three tandems and build to four Helper Locations with at least two tandems each by 2022 (Alexandria VA, Annapolis MD, Chesapeake VA, and Richmond VA).   Our full fundraising goal will support growth to eight location, 20 tandems over three years.

Donations will be tax deductible only if our 501(C)3 application is approved by the IRS.  We cannot promise that result, but if it happens it is retroactive to donations made here.

If you have a tandem bicycle, trailer bike, or hand cycle to donate, or if you would like to volunteer to run a Helper Location (2 or 3 tandems to loan out of your garage or shed), please contact us (organizer contact link on gofundme)