Boise Director Pedals Seniors to Joy on Blessing Bike

Joel Freston starts many mornings the same way: wheeling a bright three-wheeled passenger bike into the lobby of Table Rock Senior Living in Boise. Within minutes, excited residents approach him with the same eager question: "Can we go today?"

As executive director, Freston could spend his days behind a desk handling paperwork and administrative tasks. Instead, he's chosen to pedal residents along the scenic Boise River Greenbelt on what's known as "The Blessing Bike," a specially designed tricycle that lets people who can no longer ride independently experience cycling again.

For Carol Montgomery, 90, the rides have rekindled a lifelong passion. "I love riding a bike," she told KTVB 7 with unmistakable joy in her voice.

When Carol and her husband moved into the community months ago, she spotted the bike sitting in the lobby and immediately lit up. An avid cyclist in her younger years, she had deeply missed the simple pleasure of pedaling through the open air.

The Blessing Bike program came to Idaho in 2018, inspired by 92-year-old Rosemary, whose daughter Jill and son-in-law Wade Houser wanted to keep taking her out into the community. The couple helped launch the idea locally, which grew into a nonprofit that now provides passenger bikes to facilities across the state.

Table Rock Senior Living sits perfectly positioned near the river and greenbelt in southeast Boise, offering ideal routes for the outings. Residents with limited mobility can still soak up the sights, breathe fresh air, and feel the freedom of being outdoors.

Even when winter arrives, Freston refuses to let the joy stop. He takes residents on rides around the building itself, ensuring the smiles continue year-round.

Sunny's Take

What makes this story shine isn't just the bike rides themselves. It's watching an executive director understand that his real job isn't managing a facility but creating moments that matter.

"I know that taking them out, I'm just making their day," Freston said. "It brings a lot of meaning to the work I do day after day, and it takes me out of the grind and into the real feelings that our residents have."

The reward flows both directions. "Oh, it's an honor," he added. "Just to see the smiles and stuff, it just makes my day, and it makes their day and everyone wins."

Freston now hopes other senior care facilities across Idaho will launch their own blessing bike programs, giving more seniors the chance to experience a ride they thought they'd never take again.