GREEN COVE SPRINGS — Each morning, going outside is the first thing that Anthony McDowell does. As he watches the sunrise, one of his favorite things to do is walk the curvy, scenic paths of Spring Park.

It's a virtue that he's grateful to experience. And he wishes it were the same for everyone.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention reported that up to one in four U.S. adults have a disability, with mobility limitations being one of the most common. 

Pedal Works, his family's newest business venture, aims to make mobility an accessible virtue for everyone. 

"I can ride my bike and watch the sun come up, it's beautiful. So, we wanted to make sure that was available to all residents," McDowell said.

He, his wife, Sandra, and children, Ayden and Lyriq, said it's an idea that will surely bring some inclusion in the local area.

With a new pilot program in the works and awaiting final approval from the city council, Pedal Works aims to provide rentable PT-guided pedal-assist bikes within the Spring Park Pavilion.

The Electra Townie 7D pedal assist E-bikes, McDowell said, will be fit with dual adult stabilizer wheels that the biker completely controls. The bikes won't be able to tip or throttle and are PT-approved for balance-impaired riders.

It was a project born out of personal experience. When she was just 17, Sandra had a hip replacement leading to mobility issues.

"The bicycles were her way to get out and exercise," McDowell said. 

McDowell added that 25% of Clay County seniors skip out on community events due to mobility barriers.

Following a Facebook post about the potential program, McDowell said he received more than 60,000 organic views in 28 days. He recognized a need.  And the program, he said, will bring some safe change.

Currently, there are 17 Green Cove Springs residents on the Pedal Works waitlist, from ages 64-78, including those on walkers, canes and in stroke recovery. 

"We have a ton of elderly residents, and a lot of them don't want to go out and do things," he said. "And I know, even with my wife, the depression starts to sit in of being home all the time. So, we wanted to bring something they could do."

Although bike rides aren't allowed inside the park, with city approval, the bikers would be able to enjoy the outer loop at just 8 mph on Tuesdays through Thursdays between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. McDowell said there will be no riding on Highway 17 or County Roads 16 and 209. Helmets and lights will also be required.

"We don't allow any access to the road by yourselves. We want to make it the safest that we possibly can," he said.

"This is not something [where] these bikes are going to be dumped off on one side of the road."

McDowell said the first sixth months of the program will need to be perfected before they are able to expand to other parts of the county. That includes the Black Creek Trail.

"I just want for everybody to be able to come down here and enjoy," he said.

Once the application process for Pedal Works has been complete, the city staff will review and, if appropriate, move forward to the council for consideration.