Become a Pilot Change a Life

Volunteering with Joy on the Journey Colorado is one of the most rewarding things you can do with your time. As a trishaw pilot, you won’t just be pedaling a bicycle — you’ll be delivering joy, dignity, and human connection to some of the most deserving people in our community. Each ride is an opportunity to hear incredible life stories, share a laugh, and witness the kind of pure, unfiltered happiness that only comes from something as simple as the wind in someone’s hair on a beautiful Colorado afternoon. No special experience is required — just a love of cycling, a kind heart, and a willingness to show up for others. Our volunteers come from all walks of life, and what unites them is a shared belief that the elderly in our community deserve to feel seen, celebrated, and joyful. If you are looking for volunteer work that will fill your heart just as much as it fills theirs, we would love to have you on the team. Come ride with us — the journey is just as beautiful for the pilot as it is for the passenger.

Volunteer!

What You Will Learn

Volunteering with Joy on the Journey offers far more than just a chance to give back — it is an education in empathy, patience, and the profound resilience of the human spirit. Through your time as a trishaw pilot, you will receive hands-on training in safe cycling practices, passenger care, and how to create meaningful, trust-based connections with elderly individuals and those living with dementia. Perhaps most importantly, you will learn from the riders themselves — their life stories, their wisdom, and their remarkable ability to find joy in the simplest of moments will leave you with a deeper appreciation for life that no classroom could ever teach.

What you will receive

  • Thorough Training
  • Meaningful Connection
  • Beautiful Colorado Outdoors
  • Immediate Impact

What You will Gain

  • Incredible Stories
  • Community Engagement
  • A Supportive Team
  • Personal Growth
Pilots in Action
IMG_1753
IMG_0120
IMG_6672
IMG_2619
IMG_2547
Pilot Training
FAQ
Any Questions?

A: Joy on the Journey Colorado Inc. (JOJ) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization based in Larimer County, Colorado, dedicated to providing free trishaw rides to elderly individuals and those with mobility impairments, giving them the opportunity to experience the beauty of the Colorado outdoors.

A: JOJ was inspired by Cycling Without Age (CWA), an international movement founded in Denmark in 2012 by Ole Kassow, who wanted to reduce isolation among nursing home residents by giving them the gift of “wind in their hair.” Our founder, Sally Knauer, discovered the program while caring for her own elderly parents and has been passionate about it ever since.

A: Yes! JOJ was granted tax-exempt status on July 22, 2025 under IRS Code Section 501(c)(3) and is classified as a public charity. All donations are tax-deductible.

A trishaw is a specially designed three-wheeled bicycle with a comfortable passenger seat at the front. Our trishaws are battery-assisted, making it easy for volunteer pilots to pedal passengers safely and smoothly along scenic routes.

Our current rides are based at Seven Lakes Memory Care in Loveland, Colorado, with expansion underway to Hillcrest Retirement Community and additional Assisted Living and Memory Care centers across Larimer County.

The rides are intentionally unhurried, traveling at approximately 6 mph. This gentle pace allows for conversation, storytelling, and plenty of stops to enjoy nature along the way.

Absolutely. All volunteer pilots complete a thorough training program and are evaluated by an experienced pilot trainer before taking any passengers on rides. JOJ is fully insured and requires all pilots and passengers to sign releases prior to riding.

Rides are relaxed and flexible in length, designed to suit the comfort and enjoyment of each individual passenger. Routes take riders along lakes, through neighborhoods, and along scenic Colorado trails and are typically 30-45 minutes in length. 

Our rides are available to elderly individuals and those with mobility impairments residing in partner care centers. Beginning in 2026, through our partnership with Dementia Together, we will also be offering rides to individuals diagnosed with dementia who are living at home with their families.

Not at all. While many of our riders live with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, our rides are open to any elderly or mobility-impaired individual at our partner care centers who would benefit from getting outside and enjoying the fresh air.

Never. Every ride is completely free — for the riders, their families, and the care centers. It is important to us that the experience is always a gift.

 We welcome anyone with a love of cycling and a heart for serving others! Volunteers go through a comprehensive training program and are evaluated by an experienced pilot trainer before taking passengers on rides. No prior experience is necessary — just kindness and enthusiasm.

We welcome volunteers of all backgrounds and skill sets.

Volunteering is flexible and can be tailored to fit your schedule. It is desirable that you volunteer two times per month.

Donations can be made directly through our organization. As a registered 501(c)(3), all contributions are tax-deductible and go directly toward funding trishaw purchases, maintenance, and program expansion.

Your donation helps purchase and maintain our specially designed trishaws, expand our program to new care centers, and ensure that every ride remains completely free for our riders.

Absolutely! We welcome community partnerships, corporate sponsorships, and collaborative fundraising efforts. Please reach out to us directly to explore how we can work together.

Follow us on social media to stay up to date on rides, stories, volunteer opportunities, and upcoming events. Every story we share is a reminder of why this journey matters.