This article is based on a co-design study. A co-design study is where researchers invite consumers and community partners to share their lived experiences and ideas to develop new initiatives or products. This study focused on making key features or ‘principles’ for a new cycling program called ‘CycLink’.

Cycling can help young people with disability stay active, spend time with family and friends, build skills, and gain independence. However, many young people and their families find it difficult to get started. This is because information, suitable equipment, and local cycling opportunities for people with disability can be hard to find.

In this study, researchers worked together with eight young people with disability, seven parents, and fourteen community partners, such as therapists, teachers, coaches, and cycling organisations. Using interviews, surveys, photographs, and workshops, the team explored what it is like for young people with disability to learn to cycle and what support they need to reach this goal. They looked for common themes among young people with disability, their parents, and community partners (i.e. ‘co-designers’). These themes helped the team design the principles for the CycLink program.

The co-designers described learning to cycle as a “roller coaster” with many ups and downs. Getting started was often the hardest part. Families needed to find relevant information, suitable equipment, and people who could help. Despite these challenges, cycling created ‘EPIC’ opportunities for young people with disability to:

• • • Explore new places
    • Participate in activities
    • Become more Independent
    • Connect with others

Co-designers agreed that a future cycling program should: tailor support to each person’s needs, offer different choices, provide cycling expertise, provide families with cycling information and guidance, and be flexible as goals and needs change. They also recommended providing online resources, opportunities to try adapted bikes, and social supports to help young people and families get involved in cycling.

The findings show that learning to cycle is about much more than riding a bike. Young people with disabilities, families, and community partners all play an important role. Providing better access to information, equipment, expertise, and supportive networks could help more young people with disability participate meaningfully in cycling and community life. The next steps are to further develop the program and to trial CycLink in the community with young people and families.

This project was funded by a seed grant from the University of Melbourne’s Melbourne Disability Institute and forms part of John Carey’s PhD thesis, funded through the Australian Government’s Research Training Program. The team acknowledges in-kind support from Prof Victoria Palmer and Dr Jennifer Bibb from the University of Melbourne’s co-design node of MISCH.  

Citation:

1. Carey, J. J., Toovey, R., Imms, C., Shields, N., Palmer, V. J., Bibb, J., O’Keefe, F., Yates, M. J., Wallen, M., & Spittle, A. J. (2026). Using experience-based co-design to develop principles of a novel program that links young people with disability to participation in cycling (CycLink). Disability and Rehabilitation. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/09638288.2026.2636409