Quito's Ciegocleta club helps blind cyclists find freedom on tandem bikes
A Quito cycling club pairs blind riders with sighted volunteers on tandem bikes, offering freedom and adventure for nearly 19 years.
Every Sunday in Quito, Ecuador, a group of cyclists takes to the streets on tandem bikes. But these are no ordinary riders — one half of each pair is blind or visually impaired, guided by a sighted volunteer who steers.
The group, called Ciegocleta — a blend of the Spanish words for blind and bicycle — was founded nearly 19 years ago by Quito resident Miguel Ramos. What began as a casual game during the city's weekly ciclopaseo, when cars are barred from major avenues, has grown into a structured initiative.
Ramos initially built tandem bikes to ride with his children. When one child couldn't join an outing, he invited a blind neighbour instead. That single ride became the seed of a project that now counts 150 members, with around 30 turning up on a typical Sunday.
For riders like 44-year-old Franklin Ochoa, the club has been transformative. After losing his eyesight, Ochoa has taken on challenges he never considered before. He recently completed a 1,000-kilometre tandem ride spanning much of Ecuador.
"When I'm on a bicycle, I lose that label of being blind," Ochoa said. "People are always looking at us, and since we're not using a cane, they think we can see."
Ximena Lozano, a 54-year-old psychologist born without sight, has been with the club for 14 years. She describes the experience as liberating. "I feel free. I feel like I don't have any disability. I feel like I'm flying," she said.
Before each Sunday ride, blind participants receive safety tips. Volunteers also ride with their eyes covered to better understand what their visually impaired partners experience.
Ecuador's government estimates around 56,000 people in the country are visually impaired. While employment opportunities have improved, inclusion in sports remains a work in progress.
Volunteer José Paéz joined after his father-in-law lost sight rapidly due to disease. He brought him to the free rides to help overcome depression.
Ochoa's next goal is a ride from Ecuador to Mexico. He has found a willing partner through the club, though both are still working out schedules for the journey, which could take months.