Prince Edward Island Accessible Bike Trip with Batek

Accessible Cottage, Trails, and Town. Batek powered wheelchair and bike trip.

On a trip to Prince Edward Island, we stayed at Eileen's Country Cottages near Confederation Rail Trail to go biking in the area and because it has an accessible cottage. We were a party of four with three bikes and one person in a wheelchair with a Batek (device that attaches to a wheelchair to motorize it). We were delighted that both the accommodation and the immediate surrounding area had fantastic accessibility.

 

The trail was accessible after a short ride on a wide shoulder of the trans Canada highway and then along a hard packed dirt road. It is a beautiful trail along St Peter's Bay and we spent many days exploring the south side of the bay as it follows the waterfront closely. We also accessed a new trail being built from St Peter's to Greenwich Provincial Park along the north side of the bay. There was one stretch at the entrance of the park that needs a wheelchair/bike trail upgrade. However, the park itself has great, relatively flat, biking trails with sea views, beautiful forest sections, and boardwalks over sandy areas. Bonus: even on a very busy day, the bike loop was quiet as most folks chose the shorter dune and beach trail.

 

The town of St Peter's has a few lovely shops for coffee, ice cream and unique gifts along the bay all with accessible ramps and decks. We took our own bikes but noticed that there is a bike rental shop in St Peter's itself. We loaded up our bikes on our car bike rack, including the Batek and enjoyed some time at Brackley Beach at the ocean. Something to keep in mind for the wheelchair accessible beaches: The ramp usually leads to a beach mat for wheelchairs but we were there in the last half of September so the ramp was removed for the season.

 

The accessible cottage at Eileen's Country Cottages is affordable and is a true gem! As the name implies it is quiet and in the country. There are a few cottage options, and the accessible cottage is truly accessible. It has great ramps to the front and back door and decks, accessible washroom with wheel in shower and low beds for easy transfer. Our friend who has been in a wheelchair for 40+ years especially appreciated the large kitchen with room to wheel in under the counters and sink and the thoughtfulness that Gary and Lucy put in to making everything within reach from a wheelchair.