HONG KONG: Kang Meng-lin has been admired as a hero by neighbors since he returned from Beijing last week - darker, thinner and glowing with pride.

The 84-year-old man, who suffers from cataracts and glaucoma and can barely discern whether a traffic light is red or green, completed a 2,000-kilometre bicycling journey with 24 other senior citizen volunteers from the Taipei's Concern and Care Society (CCS). The average age of the cyclists was 65.

The trip, starting in Taipei on April 16 and reaching its destination of Beijing on May 2, proved to be one of "rain, sweat and snow", said CCS Chief Executive Officer David Lee.

Riding across the section between Jinan and Mengying in Shandong province, the group had to ascend and then descend 40 steep slopes, against a strong gale blowing at 75-88 kilometers per hour.

Looking back, Lee said the ride had been quite dangerous. "Small rocks were brought up by the wind and kept hitting us ... One of the team members lost balance and fell because of the wind."

That's the day Lee made the "painful decision" to cancel part of the itinerary. The senior citizens went to the next stop on a bus, which accompanied them throughout the journey.

"They were very disappointed and insisted on covering the remaining distance by themselves. To make them feel what they achieved, I told them they had broken a speed record, if we take the wind speed into consideration," he said.

That was the only day the group didn't cover the entire distance, carefully planned by Lee who had bicycled the routes between Shanghai and Beijing three times before. "If you joined our trip, you would realize the older people are actually full of life and full of enthusiasm ... What they need is a platform to show their potential," Lee said.

It is the second time CCS, a Christian organization serving the elderly had organized a bicycling trip. In 2007, senior citizen volunteers including Kang circled Taiwan island in a 12-day trip, riding a total of 931 kilometers.

Through the bicycling trips, Lee aims to spread the message that senior citizens should keep living active and fulfilling lives, rather than idling at home.

"Dreams are not for young people only. Older people can have dreams and are capable to realize the dreams," he said.

The aging of the population is one of the most serious social challenges, whether on the mainland, Taiwan or Hong Kong.

All three have already met the United Nations definition of aging societies, which is a population comprising at least 7 percent over the age of 65. Around 2020, the aged population is expected to reach 20 percent in Taiwan and Hong Kong. In the same year, the mainland is expected to have 17 percent elderly. The greying of the population will accelerate in following decades. The peak is expected by 2051, when there are expected to be 437 million senior citizens.

Chinese have a tradition of honoring parents. In practice, however, young people often find it difficult to give what their parents want most: time together.

"Personally, I think emotional disorder such as depression will be the most common problem for elderly people in future, because we live in an age of alienation in personal relationships," he said.

Bicycling provides a solution because it's a healthy activity that doesn't cost much and can be enjoyed by people of all ages, Lee pointed out.

Already planning next year's trip, from Tokyo to Hokkaido, Lee will carry on his mission of promoting bicycling among senior citizens.

"The journey from Taipei to Beijing is a beginning, not an end. I told the volunteers: 'When neighbors express their admiration, tell them to come along on the next trip'. If you want to ride, we'll ride along with you," he said.

(HK Edition 05/14/2009 page1)