Unfortunately, the politicians, the bike as a toy

Bear Billung it sails easily over the tågspår and lanes through the roundabout in Hammarby sjöstad. ”Cool bike” shouts a passer-by girl appreciative. His elarmcykel consists of the front of an ebike, which been hanged in the wheelchair and walked with his arms.

”I cycle every day. It goes much faster and is more convenient than taking the car”, says Björn Billung. Photo: Allis Nettréus

Elarmcykeln Björn is the Billungs main means of transport. He takes the bike to shop and go to the grandchildren in Hornstull. It may often go on holidays, to both Berlin and Amsterdam as the Canary islands. Upwards of 400 miles per year tends to be, summer as winter.

" I cycle every day. It goes much faster and is more convenient than taking the car. The that moves the least in society are the disabled. We want to just like all the other be able to choose the means of transport. Every day I do not take the car is also good for the environment, " says Björn Billung.

that moves the least in society are the disabled. We want to just like all the other be able to choose the means of transport,

companion after a car accident in his 20s, but he has never stopped being active. Long as he played basketball at the elite level, but after a heart attack when he was 50 years he was forced to begin to move in a different way.

”It is common that the shoulders will end when you run the wheelchair and cycling is great for getting the other muscles to move”, says Björn Billing. Photo: Allis Nettréus

" Then I built a elarmcykel of old bicycle parts. It is common that the shoulders will end when you run the wheelchair and cycling is great for getting the other muscles to move, " he says.

Now, he has fought for nine years to get the politicians in the Stockholm county to understand the value of cycling, not least for the disabled. Today is elarmcyklar on the market but they cost between 60,000 sek 70.000 sek because they are manufactured in small series.

Unfortunately, the politicians, the bike as a toy and believe that cycling is a fritidshjälpmedel

– Unfortunately, the politicians, the bike as a toy and believe that cycling is a fritidshjälpmedel. I can easily get a elscooter of the region, but I do not want to have. I want to move on me.

Björn Billing armcyklar closer to 400 miles a year. Photo: Allis Nettréus

the Stockholm Region lacks elarmcyklar in its hjälpmedelsutbud because cycling is classed as a pastime and not something that the region pays or subsidizes. Other than for children under the age of 18 years.

" We have more generous rules for kids that it makes it easier for an entire family, you can get a model via an occupational therapist you must leave the back when you are 18 years of age. Neither children or adults can get the " e prescribed, says Ella Bohlin (KD), chair of the regional assembly with responsibility for developing work.

you can of course call into question, and political decision can also be changed. I welcome a debate now, but I can't ask out a few promises. But if the matter is to be discussed must be properly investigated. It is of course also a cost issue. There is nothing that we currently have the height for the budget, " says Ella Bohlin.

– We first have to look at what there is for space. It is always done individual assessments, and the borders and differences on who should get a bike or not can be difficult. It is difficult to assess how great the need is for perhaps it is the many who have other disabilities that make it would not be appropriate for safety reasons. Children who receive the bikes may not have a visual impairment, for example, says Ella Bohlin.

A elarmcykel costs between 60,000 sek 70.000 sek because they are manufactured in small series. Photo: Allis Nettréus

that the question of elarmcyklar lifted and that the framework be reviewed in the region.

" Our view is that the issue needs to be investigated further, and we welcome such initiatives. It is important to clarify whether the regulatory framework and the region's role in the issue, " says Talla Alkurdi (S), oppositionsregionråd.

every year in the country. The development goes quickly forward and several regions procure right now both elarmcyklar and drive units for wheelchairs.

it is Our opinion that this issue needs to be investigated further, and we welcome such initiatives,

– Dalarna County council is looking at the possibility to prescribe påhängscyklar with el support, Södermanland and Kalmar have given some people a dispensation for that you cannot manage to ride a bike without electricity. Many regions and county councils to procure, however, drive units for wheelchairs, but it is a passive form of aids then you do not need to tread, " says Lars Andersson on Hjälpmedelsexperten selling påhängscyklar.

Bear Billung mean that the region's cost of elarmcyklar would quickly be earned, not least with regard to public health. The cycle helps him to keep the blood sugar levels and diabetes in check.

According to Björn Billung would the region's costs for elarmcyklar quickly recouped. Photo: Allis Nettréus

– the Society would save many millions of people armcyklade instead to ride the school busses, now they take out a elscooter just because it is free. I do not think, either, that the state shall take the vat on the elarmcykeln. It would, however, be able to pay for a part of the bike itself, then you are more afraid of it and also use it, " says Björn Billung.

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