Westray welcomes Fattie Cuttie and Fitty Fitty Bang Bang!

You could be forgiven for thinking you have landed in an Asian country if out and about on Westray these days -thanks to the long-awaited arrival of a couple of brand new bespoke tri-shaws – Fattie Cuttie and Fitty Fitty Bang Bang!

Named following a poll on the island, the three-wheeled semi-electric cycles are getting a regular outing while the “pilots” (the person cycling the bike) become competent in using them before taking out passengers.

Val Thomson – one of the carers at Kalisgarth – and local GP Dr David Mazza were key to bringing the trishaws to Westray thanks to full funding from the Westray Development Trust.

Val is delighted to see the project at this stage and thanked the Trust for their financial support of around £24,000 to cover the cost of the bikes and associated equipment.

She explained how it came about: “Many moons ago I was tagged in a post on Facebook about Cycling Without Age by a good friend of mine - our local nurse at the time. I thought this looked amazing! I looked into it a bit further and spoke to David Mazza as he has a brother in Denmark who is a pilot himself.

“We formed a group on the island and had a Zoom call with Cycling Without Age. It all sounded really hopeful and all we had to do was secure funding.”

This proved trickier than they at first thought and several applications were turned down before they approached the Westray Development Trust.

“We were delighted to hear the news that they would fund 100% of our project - we were over the moon! We gathered lots of name suggestions for the tri-shaws from the public. The residents and day care attenders at Kalisgarth then had the job to whittle it down to just 10 - and we then had a poll on Facebook. The outright winners were Fattie Cuttie and Fitty Fitty Bang Bang!”

Val has also appealed for volunteers to undertake training in how to be a pilot.

“There are 3 of us who trained to be trainers so that we can always train new volunteer pilots! Ailsa Seatter and Zoe Cleaton are already running extra training sessions for the folk that couldn’t attend the whole session on Monday (July 25). 

“We are thoroughly enjoying getting out and about and learning how to operate the bikes. The tri-shaws are semi electric so it only requires a gentle pedal. There is no limit to who can or cannot go on a tri-shaw as you can even be hoisted into it if needed so they can be used by anyone to get out and about and enjoy that sense of freedom and some fresh air. This is all about inclusion.

“We have to have a few more practice sessions before doing a test via Zoom to be deemed competent to take other passengers.”

Rides will be free as Cycling Without Age are a charity - but donations are welcome.

Val continued: “I feel so passionately getting everyone outside! It will boost self-esteem in every way shape and form and you feel like the queen being chauffeured about! They make everyone smile as you pedal past and give the bell a ding a ling!”

The residents at Kalisgarth may be some of the first to benefit given Val and co-worker, Bev Tulloch, are training to use the tri-shaws.

“I’m sure one of our first outings will be off to Wheeling Steen for a whippy ice-cream! At Kalisgarth we used to fill the bus and go out on big bus runs! Owing to COVID we still have a limited capacity on the bus to ensure we are keeping everyone as safe as possible, so the tri-shaws make an outing much more achievable for everyone.”

Those keen to be a pilot must be aged 16 or over, undertake the training and PVG check and will be fully insured for taking out members of the public.

Anyone within the community or visiting Westray can book a ride once the pilots are fully signed off. Watch this space for the booking system.