Step through bikes for people with mobility challenges
Bicycles have been a common mode of transportation for decades, but people with disabilities have been left out. Step-through bikes are specially designed to allow riders who use braces or other devices to step over the frame instead of lifting their leg high enough to mount a regular bike. Willie Weir, a disabled cyclist and cycling coach in Davis, California, used to use step-through bicycles. He said it was difficult finding step-through bikes that were designed for off-road cycling, citing the need for large tire clearance and higher gearing. But in recent years he has seen more step-through bikes on trails near his home. He expects this trend will continue as growing numbers of people with disabilities increasingly turn to two wheels for recreation or transportation. "I think step-throughs are starting to feel like a practical option," said Weir who is vice president of Adaptive Adventures, which leads tours all over the world. "They're proving themselves.&qu