From handbike tours to camping holidays – how to manage mobility in leisure time

Riding a bike or going for a hike at the weekend – what is normal for many can be a great challenge for people with mobility impairments. When participation in social life is impeded, the quality of life often suffers. The effects vary depending on the degree to which people are affected. Thankfully, many companies offer solutions to manage the desire for mobility in leisure activities.

One way of maintaining or regaining independence is to use handbikes and trikes, which require less effort and can help with mobility impairments. The recumbent bikes and trikes offer a sensible alternative when riding upright is no longer possible and can also be used with an electric motor assist. The company HP Velotechnik offers a variety of such aids, which are also particularly suitable for off-road use, such as the innovative Hands-On-Cycle: "With Hands-On-Cycle, cycling tours and cycling trips with family or friends are possible again," says Managing Director Paul Hollants.

Multiple Olympic champion Kristina Vogel, parapalegic following a training crash in 2018, has also discovered handbikes herself: "I can't tell you how happy I am to ride a bike again. I have rediscovered my passion after all this time." After testing HP Velotechnik's Hands-on-Cycle at REHACARE 2022, the former professional cyclist is now becoming the company's brand ambassador.

For adventurers and off-road fans, the companies Push Mobility and Stricker Handbikes have joined forces to develop THE BEAST. The cooperation enabled the transformation of a manual wheelchair into an intuitively operable handbike for off-road adventures. In this article on REHACARE.com you can find out more.

Spending a holiday in nature with a camper – even with physical limitations? F. Sodermanns Automobile GmbH makes that possible. The company offers various options for different needs, for example, with special furniture systems and individual conversions.

"In terms of vehicle provision and converted campers, motorhomes and caravans, almost everything is possible. We have been receiving more and more unique enquiries on this topic for years, ranging from entry auxiliary means to special seats or driving auxiliary means," says Ralf Sontag of F. Sodermanns Automobile GmbH.

Suitable entry auxiliary means include steps that extend mechanically or electrically or lift systems that lift people with physical disabilities to the correct entry height at the push of a button. The interior design depends on the wishes and needs of the customers. For wheelchair users, sufficient passage width is important. Cupboards, kitchen, bed, toilet and shower can be designed to be completely barrier-free. If you want to drive a motorhome yourself, you can have the company determine which driving aids are needed – including a strength and reaction time measurement.

"It is important to seek advice from a specialist in vehicle conversions for people with disabilities in order to find the best solutions for your personal requirements," says Sontag. The company has published a detailed video report (in German) describing the specific alterations made to a motorhome on its YouTube channel as a first insight. Sodermanns Automobile GmbH is just one of many REHACARE exhibitors offering support for improving mobility.