Evan

Hi everyone!

I’d like to introduce myself. My name is Evan, and I’ve been a proud bike rider with Rochester Accessible Adventures for the past 9 years.

As a child, I had difficulty learning to ride a 2-wheel bike. I took classes to help me learn to ride a typical bike, but just never felt comfortable riding that way. But what could I do? I wanted to be outside, having fun riding in some way, just like any other child. So what was available for me, in Rochester?

Through word of mouth, my family learned about the wonderful Erie Canal Boat Company, [a business] in Fairport. I was very excited to learn that they offered adaptive trike rides along the beautiful Erie Canal!  We met the owner, Peter, who was very kind and helpful. Peter had a great sense of humor and was always positive.

It was such a relief to see that Peter offered adaptive equipment for people to rent. And the trikes weren’t awkward looking. They were cool colors, and sporty and had state-of-the-art designs for all kinds of riders! I was overjoyed to see that he had beautiful adaptive trikes so that I could enjoy biking along the Erie Canal path just like so many other people do each day.

And through a partnership with Rochester Accessible Adventures, led by Anita and so many other good people, I was excited to learn that I could also have a Canal Pal: A person to ride with me and support me on my journey. Although I have had several great Canal Pals, early on, I met my favorite:  Pat.  Pat and I got along right away.  We rode for several summers.

But then a couple of years ago, I unfortunately broke my ankle. It was not an easy break. For a while, I lived on our living room couch, and I couldn’t put any weight on my foot!

I remember I had to sit in our rolling computer chair and my mother would pull me across the floors of our house during the day to get me to different rooms.  I had to have surgery and went through months of physical therapy. It was difficult and depressing. I felt cut off from people, and that’s not healthy.

While I was at the surgeon’s office, I would see posters on the walls of athletes who recovered from different injuries. The posters were titled “This is my comeback.”  That made me feel hopeful, and I decided that I could also have a comeback. I pictured riding along the canal on a trike again, and decided that it would be my goal.

One day when I was on my feet and able to walk again, I went to an inclusion festival at Nazareth College and guess who was there?Rochester Accessible Adventures, and my old Canal Pal, Pat!

Pat was shocked to see how tall I had grown and gave me her contact information so we could ride together again. At first I could only go a few miles. But with patience and showing up every week, my ankle got stronger and stronger.

My last ride of the season was in October.  My goal was to ride from Macedon to Fairport. And I made it!

Pat took a photo of me on that ride.  It’s a bright sunny day, and I’m smiling. I feel like it’s my own success story poster, titled “this is MY comeback!”

I like Pat because she’s friendly and kind and helps me navigate the community and have fun.  Pat is supportive but also lets me grow and develop my skills by giving me some space. Sometimes we talk and joke, and take rest stops together. Sometimes we discuss how to be safe. Or, how to be stronger. And sometimes we just ride quietly and enjoy nature.

I think if I had to name a favorite bird we always see together, it would be the heron!

When I was younger Pat and I saw a heron and Pat took a photo of it and me. And recently, I was filmed for a documentary film supporting New York’s canals. And would you believe it?  Again there was a great heron, which landed right near me as we were filming.

The heron has always been a bird that likes to escort me along the canal. It flies over the water on broad, strong wings, while I fly along faster and faster on my trike and I almost feel like I have wings too!

The meaning of a heron can vary depending on the culture. I looked up Herons on the computer, and I learned that in mythology, the grey heron symbolizes adaptability and transformation.

To me, that is what Rochester Accessible Adventures is all about. They [have created access to] biking, kayaking and so much more!  But more importantly, as I’ve gone from childhood to adulthood, they’ve taught me about how I can connect to something greater. How I can navigate. How I can grow up to be part of a greater community. How I can get stronger and be more independent and live my life.

So for this, I say:  Thank you, Rochester Accessible Adventures! I don’t know where I’d be without you!

It’s not just MY comeback…This is OUR comeback!!!!

And we’re doing it, together!