Jan van Vugt, known as ‘Jan the Bicycle Man’ has found healing from pain and fatigue caused by Parkinson ‘s disease.

This healing hasn’t come from taking a pill twice daily, but from cycling.

“Twice a day I go biking and when I do, I am almost pain free. when my feet are on the pedals, they move like the feet of a healthy person,” Jan said.

In 1998, Jan, who was an appliance repairman for 30 years, was forced to retire due to Parkinson’s disease. The disease caused a tremor that made it too dangerous for him to work with live electricity.

Seven years ago, Jan had brain surgery to reduce the tremor, and it was a success. however, the Parkinson’s still left him exhausted and in pain.

“In September, 2009, I got sick and tired of feeling sick and tired,” he said.

“The muscles in my legs were deteriorating and I was finding it difficult to get in and out of the car. my son had told me that in Holland, he saw a lot of 80- and 90-year-olds that were still riding a bicycle. he also told me that he saw a lot less overweight people in Holland.”

Jan’s doctor originally advised him against cycling. however, this didn’t stop him from trying it.

“The first time I tried cycling, I couldn’t pedal two metres up the hill without stopping and walking. After one month of regular cycling, I could pedal up the entire hill in first gear. it started getting easier. I started riding a bike instead of using the car everywhere I went. my legs are getting stronger and I am feeling much better.”

It was a doctor in Holland who discovered that cycling reduced the shaking symptoms of Parkinson’s.

“The exercise from my bike riding reduced the effects of my Parkinson’s and is giving me a new outlook on my future.”

Jan has now been cycling since September, 2009. One of his main fears is riding in traffic.

“I think the City of Abbotsford is doing a good job establishing bike lanes. Although, I believe they should put a proper bicycle lane down Old Yale Road on each side, not a left turn lane that will push traffic closer to the sidewalks. Rules and roads seem to be made by non-bikers. I suspect that city planners feel cyclists are an inconvenience,” he said.

“The bicycle is the most important asset you can have for your health because if you ride a bike you can’t help but improve your health. I think that we, as a society, are getting too lazy and too infatuated with the automobile.”

Jan took part in last Wednesday’s Cycling4Fun session put on by the Abbotsford Cycling Action Group (ACAG) that taught participants about cycling in traffic and took them on a one-hour bike ride along an urban route.

“Since the last Cycling4Fun ride, I’ve gotten more courage and felt safer riding in the traffic. that ride was the biggest help that I’ve had as far as riding on the road was concerned,” he said.

“When I went on that ride, I was worried about not keeping up to the rest of the group. but I found that a lot of people were in similar shape as me. The ride went at a nice pace and I had no problem whatsoever.”

Jan will continue to attend Cycling4Fun sessions until May 26 and he encourages people who suffer from similar symptoms to also try cycling.

“The joy that I have found in a renewed love for biking only brings me one regret. Why did I wait so many years to get back into it?”

Cycling4Fun sessions run every Wednesday, until May 26, from 7 p.m. to 8:20 pm.

Cycling4Fun is funded in part by B.C. Recreation and Parks Association.

For more information about Cycling4Fun, visit acag-bc.ca.

To learn more about Jan’s story, visit janthebicycleman.com.

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