Tandem bicycle club in Ecuador’s capital leads blind riders to new adventures

In Quito, Ecuador, a unique bicycle club known as Ciegocleta is transforming the lives of blind riders through tandem cycling. Founded 19 years ago by Miguel Ramos, the club consists of volunteers who guide visually impaired participants on their rides. Franklin Ochoa, a 44-year-old member of the club, says that since losing his eyesight 16 years ago, he has discovered new adventures he never imagined before his vision was lost.

Ochoa, who is one of the most active members of Ciegocleta, recently completed a 1,000 km (620 mile) tandem bike ride that covered much of Ecuador. For Ochoa, riding in a tandem bike gives him a feeling of happiness and he always tells his guide to let go of the brakes. Ramos built the tandem bikes for his own use during a weekly event called ciclopaseo, where cars are barred from many avenues in the city and replaced with bike riders and joggers.

The idea for Ciegocleta began when one of Ramos' children couldn't make it to ciclopaseo, so he invited a blind neighbor to ride with him. This eventually led to more outings with blind participants riding tandem bikes or even bikes with three or four seats, leading to true inclusion and visually impaired people enjoying cycling without any limits.