Team Marine Corps veteran Cpl. Tisha Knickerbocker powers a hand cycle during the 2018 DoD Warrior Games

Cyclists with disabilities ride FREE at QCC 2019

NEW for 2019: Cyclists with disabilities and companions–ie, tandem captains riding with a visually impaired stoker, or generally anyone riding with or assisting a rider with a disability–ride the Queen City Century FREE.

That includes any cyclist with a disability or, for example, veterans with a disability who want to participate in the Queen City Century.

WWP Soldier Ride Seattle WA 295 by Parker Knight
WWP Soldier Ride Seattle WA 295 by Parker Knight on FlickR: https://www.flickr.com/photos/rocketboom/20282082306/ License: CC BY 2.0

Inspired by Cycle St. Louis – taking it state wide

We were inspired by the work of Cycle St. Louis, who have been doing amazing working to encourage and enable more people with disabilities to be able to cycle in St. Louis-area bicycle events.

Cycle St. Louis partnered with Trailnet to make all Trailnet rides this year more accessible to people with disabilities, and to provide free registrations for riders with a disability and companions.

After talking with Cycle St. Louis about their amazing program, and the need for this type of program all across Missouri and the U.S., we thought–why not take the free registration program statewide?

The “free ride for cyclist with disabilities and companion” policy applies to ALL Missouri Bicycle & Pedestrian Federation rides and events starting this year.

Team SOCOM Master Sgt. Curtis Allen pedals a recumbent cycle during the 2018 DoD Warrior Games cycling competition
Team SOCOM Master Sgt. Curtis Allen pedals a recumbent cycle during the 2018 DoD Warrior Games cycling competition at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo. June 6, 2018. (DoD photo by EJ Hersom) FlickR: https://www.flickr.com/photos/dodnewsfeatures/27764347647/ License: CC BY 2.0

How to register for QCC 2019

If you are a cyclist with a disability who wants to ride the Queen City Century this year, just register as usual but choose the “cyclist with a disability or companion” registration option, which will give you free ride registration.

We are working to create ride options for cyclists with disabilities who may wish to ride shorter or off-road routes. For QCC 2019 we have these options:

  • Our regular road ride option is an out and back route, meaning that you can choose to ride literally any ride length from 0.25 miles to 100 miles. Note that the first section of the ride is on lower-traffic streets in downtown Springfield.
  • The Guided Tour of Springfield option is around 20-miles, accompanied by a guide, and at your own pace. We may be able to arrange a shorter route and/or a guide for a shorter/slower pace if desired. Please contact us!

A challenge to ride organizers

We encourage all other event organizers and promoters to consider a similar policy.