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Tandem Bicycle Club in Ecuador's Capital Leads Blind Riders to New Adventures
The club has 150 members and recently completed a 1,000 km ride across Ecuador, giving blind riders access to cycling and outdoor freedom.
- On Sunday, August 30, 2026, volunteers in Quito, Ecuador, guided visually impaired cyclists on tandem bikes provided by the Ciegocleta initiative, enabling blind riders to access outdoor cycling.
- Miguel Ramos founded Ciegocleta 19 years ago in Quito after inviting a blind neighbor to ride when one of his children could not attend. That became the first of many outings.
- The group now has 150 members, though only about 30 show up on a typical Sunday. Long-time member 54-year-old psychologist Ximena Lozano and Franklin Ochoa credit the club with expanding their independence.
- While around 56,000 people in Ecuador are visually impaired, Lozano says the club gives her a reason to be outdoors and "experience freedom" beyond her home.
- Recently, Ochoa completed a 1,000 km tandem ride spanning much of Ecuador; his next challenge is undertaking a ride from Ecuador to Mexico since losing his eyesight 16 years ago.
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16 Articles
16 Articles
Hartford Courant+3 Reposted by 3 other sources
By GONZALO SOLANO QUITO (AP) — “What I never met when I saw, now that I’m blind I’m meeting him by bicycle.” The phrase is from Franklin Ochoa, who as part of the group called Ciegocleta enjoys long Sunday walks and demanding departures outside Quito with the help of a guide. The proposal is simple, [...]
·Hartford, United States
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Total News Sources16
Leaning Left9Leaning Right1Center4Last UpdatedBias Distribution64% Left
Bias Distribution
- 64% of the sources lean Left
64% Left
L 64%
C 29%
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